Transportation Planners: Job Description
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
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What Tasks Do Transportation Planners Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of transportation planners include:
- Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
- Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
- Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
- Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
- Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
- Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues.
- Analyze information related to transportation, such as land use policies, environmental impact of projects, or long-range planning needs.
- Interpret data from traffic modeling software, geographic information systems, or associated databases.
Skills and Knowledge
Top transportation planners draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Transportation Planners Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS)
- Fleet Coordinator
- Planner
- Program Officer
- Traffic Analyst
- Transit Planner
- Transportation Analyst
- Transportation Consultant
Job Outlook
There are about 41,813 transportation planners working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Transportation Planners
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,855 |
| Hourly median | $24.45 |
| 10th percentile | $32,898 |
| 25th percentile | $41,877 |
| 75th percentile | $59,834 |
| 90th percentile | $68,813 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Transportation Planners Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $144,320 |
| Maryland | $129,750 |
| District of Columbia | $122,320 |
| Washington | $107,100 |
| Massachusetts | $104,770 |
| New York | $102,570 |
| Connecticut | $102,150 |
| Hawaii | $102,000 |
| California | $101,110 |
| Colorado | $101,000 |
| Arizona | $97,360 |
| Oregon | $96,700 |
| New Jersey | $96,360 |
| Texas | $96,210 |
| Minnesota | $95,930 |
| Ohio | $95,860 |
| Alabama | $95,640 |
| Illinois | $94,520 |
| West Virginia | $94,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,750 |
| Maine | $89,860 |
| New Mexico | $89,860 |
| Georgia | $89,440 |
| Nevada | $88,750 |
| North Carolina | $87,810 |
| Iowa | $87,590 |
| Mississippi | $86,940 |
| South Carolina | $86,940 |
| Florida | $86,670 |
| Indiana | $84,640 |
| Utah | $84,640 |
| Wyoming | $84,640 |
| Arkansas | $84,640 |
| Alaska | $84,280 |
| Wisconsin | $84,020 |
| Kansas | $82,220 |
| South Dakota | $82,220 |
| New Hampshire | $81,950 |
| Rhode Island | $81,950 |
| Louisiana | $80,490 |
| Missouri | $80,040 |
| Idaho | $79,790 |
| Oklahoma | $79,790 |
| Michigan | $78,960 |
| Montana | $78,770 |
| Kentucky | $78,020 |
| Vermont | $74,990 |
| Puerto Rico | $73,940 |
| North Dakota | $72,550 |
Where Transportation Planners Earn the Most
Pay for transportation planners differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $114,601 | 25.4% | 6.08 |
| Southeast | $107,184 | 30.4% | 2.34 |
| Far Western US | $100,923 | 13.0% | 1.00 |
| Southwest | $94,936 | 9.9% | 0.80 |
| New England | $93,575 | 2.7% | 0.81 |
| Rocky Mountains | $93,344 | 3.6% | 1.00 |
| Great Lakes | $90,440 | 9.2% | 0.82 |
| Plains States | $87,901 | 5.3% | 1.03 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $178,810 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $137,610 | 7,050 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | PA | $127,280 | 100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $125,820 | 1,060 |
| Charlottesville, VA | VA | $118,830 | 360 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | OH | $117,960 | 710 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $115,340 | 580 |
| Wilmington, NC | NC | $114,490 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
Most transportation planners are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4,870 | $104,310 |
| Educational Services | 4,520 | $83,100 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,610 | $171,320 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 490 | $66,260 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 450 | $80,760 |
| Wholesale Trade | 80 | $85,070 |
| Manufacturing | 50 | $66,570 |
| Information | 40 | $134,250 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Transportation Planners Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of transportation planners reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Entry-level transportation planners positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (Primary-Short)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Supplemental)
- Logisticians (Primary-Short)
- Logistics Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Logistics Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Project Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Sustainability Specialists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring transportation planners often complete programs in:
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
16 programs across 16 majors
- Behavioral Science
- Sustainability Science
- Human Biology
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
- Gerontology
- Multicultural & Diversity Studies
- Cultural Studies & Analysis
- Biopsychology
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
- History and Political Science
- Anthrozoology
- Holocaust Studies
- Geoarcheaology
- Linguistics and Anthropology
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
Social Sciences
8 programs across 3 majors
Education
5 programs across 1 majors
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-3099.01 (Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other).
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