Occupation Summary

Urban and Regional Planners

O*NET 19-3051.00

Description:

Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

Annual Wages:
$73,023.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 13.78%.
Education Level:
Master's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
  2. Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
  3. Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
  4. Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
  5. Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
  6. Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.
  7. Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.
  8. Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
  9. Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.
  10. Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs.
  11. Supervise or coordinate the work of urban planning technicians or technologists.
  12. Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
  13. Advocate sustainability to community groups, government agencies, the general public, or special interest groups.
  14. Develop plans for public or alternative transportation systems for urban or regional locations to reduce carbon output associated with transportation.
  15. Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
  16. Identify opportunities or develop plans for sustainability projects or programs to improve energy efficiency, minimize pollution or waste, or restore natural systems.
  17. Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects.
  18. Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes.
  19. Investigate property availability for purposes of development.
  20. Conduct interviews, surveys and site inspections concerning factors that affect land usage, such as zoning, traffic flow and housing.
  21. Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate planning studies in areas such as population, land use, or zoning.
  22. Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases.
  23. Prepare, maintain and update files and records, including land use data and statistics.
  24. Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects.
  25. Respond to public inquiries and complaints.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Urban and Regional Planners employed Annual Growth Rate
Architectural, engineering, and related services 11 0.00
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 3.2 1.44


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $35.11
2022 National average hourly wage $39.63
2020 National employment 39,100
2020 Texas employment 2,184
Texas projected employment by 2030 2,485
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 228




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
92.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
88.00%
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
83.20%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
80.80%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
72.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
68.80%
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
68.00%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
65.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
60.80%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
59.20%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
82.40%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
82.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
82.40%
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
80.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
77.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
75.00%
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
75.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
72.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
82.40%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
80.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
77.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
77.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
77.60%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    -- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies
    -- Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.



Tools

Desktop calculator: 10-key calculators;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital camcorders;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS receivers;

Laser printers: Laser printers;

Map measurers: Planimeters;

Microfiche or microfilm viewers: Microfiche readers;

Notebook computers: Notebook computers; Laptop computers;

Overhead projectors: Overhead projectors;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photocopiers: Photocopiers;

Plotter printers: Plotters;

Scales: Drafting scales;

Scanners: Digitizers;

Slide projectors: Slide projectors;

Special purpose telephones: Multi-line telephone systems;

Still cameras: 35 millimeter cameras;

Two way radios: Two way radios;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Citilabs TRANPLAN; Location allocation decision support system LADSS; Scientific Software Group ModTech; Transportation planning software;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Microsoft SharePoint;

Compliance software: Accela PERMITS Plus; Accela Tidemark Advantage;

Computer aided design CAD software: 3D urban simulation modeling software; CommunityViz; Computer aided design CAD software; Autodesk 3ds Max Design; Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D; Bentley MicroStation; Caliper TransCAD; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; MultiGen Paradigm 3D GIS; Trimble SketchUp Pro; UrbanSim; Tangible Media Group Luminous Table; e-on VUE;

Data base user interface and query software: dBASE; Oracle Database; Street address databases; Structured query language SQL; Microsoft Access; Land management databases; Database software;

Data mining software: Data mining software;

Desktop communications software: RhinoSoft FTP Voyager;

Desktop publishing software: Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign; Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker; Desktop publishing software;

Development environment software: Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite; Software development tools;

Document management software: Interwoven software; Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat;

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook; IBM Lotus Notes;

Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Enterprise resource planning ERP software; Accela KIVA DMS; SAP software; WorkTech MAXIMO;

Geographic information system: PlanGraphics Citywide GIS Utility; Esri ArcGIS; Geographic information system GIS software; Geographic information system GIS systems; ESRI ArcGIS software; ESRI ArcInfo; ESRI ArcView; ESRI What if?; ESRI software;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; Graphics software; Adobe Systems Adobe FreeHand MX; Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Map creation software: Telogis GeoBase; Geomechanical design analysis GDA software; RockWare ArcMap; Spatial decision support systems SDSS software; ITC Integrated Land and Water Information System ILWIS; ITSpatial InterSCOPE; Intergraph MGE; Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE; Criterion Planners INDEX;

Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint; Presentation software;

Project management software: Oracle Primavera Systems; Microsoft Project;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; IBM Lotus 1-2-3; Spreadsheet software;

Time accounting software: Sage Timeslips;

Web page creation and editing software: Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver;

Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Urban and Regional Planners include:
  • 11-9199.11 Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
  • 11-1011.03 Chief Sustainability Officers
  • 19-2041.01 Climate Change Policy Analysts
  • 19-1031.00 Conservation Scientists
  • 19-2041.02 Environmental Restoration Planners
  • 19-2041.03 Industrial Ecologists
  • 17-1012.00 Landscape Architects
  • 13-1082.00 Project Management Specialists
  • 13-1199.05 Sustainability Specialists
  • 19-3099.01 Transportation Planners


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about careers in urban and regional planning, visit: American Planning Association
  • For more information about certification in urban and regional planning, visit: American Institute of Certified Planners
  • For more information about New Jersey licensure in planning, visit: New Jersey State Board of Professional Planners
  • For more information about accredited urban and regional planning programs, visit: Planning Accreditation Board
  • Urban and Regional Planners

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.