Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in Georgia make a median of $80,030 a year, or about $38.48 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $87,093 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Georgia?
About urban and regional planners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Urban and regional planners pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in Georgia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $81K | +2% | 750 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $75K | -6% | 50 |
| Savannah | $66K | -17% | 50 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $59K | -26% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for urban and regional planners in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,238/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is urban and regional planner a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for urban and regional planners?
Georgia pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in Georgia?
The median is $80,030 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,970, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $125,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a urban and regional planners salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median urban and regional planners salary is worth about $87,093 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do urban and regional planners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.