Employment Urban and regional planners held about 22,000 jobs in 1990. An increasing proportion of public agency planners work in small jurisdictions with populations under 50,000. State and Federal agencies that deal with housing, transportation, or environmental protection employ most of the rest. The largest Federal employers are the Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Housing and Urban Development. Some planners do consulting work, either part time in addition to a regular job, or full time for a firm that provides services to private developers or government agencies.
Some planners work for surveying firms, market research organizations, or large land developers.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Employers often seek workers who have advanced training in urban or regional planning. Most entry jobs in Federal, State, and local government agencies require 2 years of graduate study in urban or regional planning, or the equivalent in work experience. Although the master's degree in planning is the usual requirement at the entry level, some people who have a bachelor's degree in city planning, architecture, or engineering may qualify for beginning positions. Courses in real estate, finance, and management are highly recommended. In addition, familiarity with statistical techniques and computer usage is desirable.