Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in Washington make a median of $100,990 a year, or about $48.56 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $99,000 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Washington?
About urban and regional planners
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for urban and regional planners, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $89K. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in Washington
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $108K | +7% | 1,430 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $105K | +4% | 100 |
| Bellingham | $100K | -1% | 110 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $96K | -5% | 750 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $96K | -5% | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $96K | -5% | 150 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $96K | -5% | 50 |
| Yakima | $89K | -12% | 80 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $85K | -16% | 60 |
| Longview-Kelso | $83K | -18% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 27.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for urban and regional planners in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,631/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $101K here vs. $89K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for urban and regional planners?
Washington pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in Washington?
The median is $100,990 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,190, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $126,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,619/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 27.6% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median urban and regional planners salary is worth about $99,000 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.