What Does a City Planner Do?

City planners, also known as urban planners, are responsible for shaping resilient, sustainable, livable, and functional cities. What a city planner does varies, with responsibilities including an understanding of zoning laws, public transportation, infrastructure development, green spaces and parks, and more. Completing a dual degree program, such as an online Master of Social Work with a Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership, can prepare aspiring city planners to envision the future of cities around the world. 

City Planner Duties and Responsibilities 

City planners are skilled professionals who are responsible for creating and shaping communities, from small towns to major metropolitan areas. What does a city planner do, exactly? What are some of their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities? City planners regularly tackle the following duties: 

• Designing entirely new towns, cities, or communities 
• Improving parts of existing towns, cities, or communities
• Learning about and understanding a specific area’s cultural needs
• Ensuring that communities’ needs are balanced equally
• Creating rules and guidelines for city zoning and development
• Meeting with various other professionals, such as architects, construction crews, plumbers, and engineers, to explore the best ways to use land
• Building green spaces, such as footpaths, parks, or recreational areas
• Implementing or improving public transportation pathways
• Planning future improvements that will continue to develop a community’s infrastructure and economy 

Common Industries and Work Environments

While local and state governments employ most city planners, organizations such as architectural and engineering firms employ them as well. They typically work in office environments but also regularly visit project sites and attend meetings with neighborhood groups, public officials, and other stakeholders. 

How to Become a City Planner 

Becoming a city planner involves earning one or more relevant degrees, honing certain skills while gaining work experience, and obtaining credentials. 

Obtain Relevant Education

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a master’s degree is typically the minimum education required to work as a city planner. Many degrees can lead to this career, but as natural disasters become increasingly frequent, master’s degree programs in social work and disaster resilience leadership are in high demand. 

Trained as both social workers and city planning specialists, graduates of these programs are highly qualified to help rebuild cities after natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or fires. Their expertise ensures that recovery efforts address the needs of individuals, families, and communities as a whole. 

Gain Work Experience and Hone Skills

According to Indeed, most employers seek city planner candidates who have at least two years of work experience, gained through internships during their university education, volunteering, civil engineering, public policy, or economic development. 

Based on what a city planner does, the most important skills include the following: 

• Project management
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Legal and ethical land use
• Productivity and Geographic Information System knowledge
• Critical thinking to provide solutions for problems that may arise in cities and communities
• Leadership 
• Demographic analysis as it pertains to cultures, trends, and employment needs

Earn Credentials

As of May 2023, New Jersey is the only state that requires city planners to be certified, according to the BLS. However, employers may prefer to hire planners who have professional certifications.

The American Institute of Certified Planners offers a voluntary certification for city planners. Candidates must pass an exam and renew their certifications every two years. Those who wish to specialize in environmental planning can earn a Certified Environmental Planner credential, which must also be renewed every two years. 

City Planner Salary and Job Outlook 

The median annual salary for urban and regional planners was $81,000 as of May 2023, according to the BLS. Planners who work for architectural, engineering, and consulting firms typically had higher salaries, earning around $86,000. 

The BLS projects that the employment of city planners will grow by about 4 percent between 2023 and 2033, driven primarily by the need to adapt to changes in transportation, infrastructure, and demographics. More city planners will be needed to help address population growth, particularly in larger cities. Furthermore, as American infrastructure ages, city planners will play a crucial role in repairing and replacing roadways, parks, plumbing, and even school systems. 

Help Build the Cities of the Future as a City Planner 

What a city planner does is ensure that everything works together for the greater good of those living there. These individuals are the very heart of city and community development. City planners with strong backgrounds in social work and disaster resilience leadership will be vital in the coming years, as climate change continues to impact the nation. 

If you are passionate about helping others and want to shape the cities of the future, Tulane University’s Online Master of Social Work with a Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership program can help you succeed. With focused research projects and partnerships, as well as a joint curriculum in social work and disaster resilience, this dual-degree program uniquely prepares students for highly specialized, meaningful careers. 

Learn more about how you can create and implement programs that bring communities together to rebuild in times of crisis with TU.