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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Urban and Regional Planners

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

Also called: City Planner, Community Development Planner, Community Planner, Development Technician, Housing Development Specialist, Neighborhood Planner

Median pay in Greater Boston
$103,460
$49.74/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,100
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.2%
120 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Master's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$78,330$84,380$103,460$123,350$136,760

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
  • Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
  • Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
  • 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.
  • Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
  • Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure83 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 82
  • Language-model AIOE 77
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 90

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

Urban planning has higher AI exposure, and some planners already use AI tools. Tools can help draft reports, summarize land use data, and build maps and charts. Running public meetings, mediating disputes, and advising officials on tradeoffs still depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Drafting narrative and graphic land use reports
  • Summarizing land use and population data

Still relies on people

  • Leading public meetings with mixed groups
  • Mediating community disputes and building agreement

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Project Management Specialists

    Working with stakeholders and weighing project needs carries over directly, and the role pays well in Greater Boston with a bachelor's degree.

    Pay difference
    +$11,530 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +2.7%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Compliance Officers

    Checking that plans meet regulations carries over, and the role asks for a bachelor's degree plus moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$480 median
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    MA growth
    +3.0%
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    Bachelor's degree

  • Construction Managers

    Knowing codes, zoning, and project review carries over, and Massachusetts job growth is projected at 10.9% through 2034.

    Pay difference
    +$53,010 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +10.9%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

10 programs near Boston (plus 14 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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