Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in Wisconsin make a median of $84,290 a year, or about $40.53 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $89,357 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 22.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Wisconsin?
About urban and regional planners
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Urban and regional planners pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $84K locally vs. $89K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in Wisconsin
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $104K | +23% | 140 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $101K | +20% | 200 |
| Appleton | $82K | -3% | 30 |
| Wausau | $78K | -7% | 30 |
| Eau Claire | $77K | -9% | 30 |
| Green Bay | $76K | -9% | 70 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $67K | -20% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for urban and regional planners in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,014/month. At HUD’s $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $84K locally vs. $89K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for urban and regional planners?
Wisconsin pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in Wisconsin?
The median is $84,290 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,230, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $116,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,355/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $89,357 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.