Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in North Dakota make a median of $78,500 a year, or about $37.74 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $88,311 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in North Dakota?
About urban and regional planners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for urban and regional planners in North Dakota runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for urban and regional plannerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $80K | +2% | 50 |
| Bismarck | $80K | +2% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for urban and regional planners in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,664/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is urban and regional planner a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $79K here vs. $89K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for urban and regional planners?
North Dakota pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in North Dakota?
The median is $78,500 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,070, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $129,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,173/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 20% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $88,311 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.