Planner Jobs in North Carolina
Planner jobs in North Carolina are concentrated in Charlotte, Raleigh, and the Research Triangle, where urban growth, infrastructure investment, and corporate expansion have kept demand steady for transportation, urban, and supply chain planners at every level from entry to senior. Large employers with lasting hiring activity in the state include Duke Energy, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and Wake County government. The most in-demand specialties are transportation planning, land use and zoning, and supply chain and production planning. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION.
The City of Fayetteville is currently recruiting for a Transit Planner to perform complex technical analysis in support of Transit Department operations, to include the development and implementation of route schedules and service plans, analyzing data involving Transit Operator work assignments, and development and maintenance of a variety of databases and programs associated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Automatic Passenger Counts (APC) and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate and perform research and analysis leading to the development of new and improved transit routes, to include routing patterns, travel patterns, stop activity, ridership trends, etc.
- Assist in the development of short- and long-range plans for the implementation of new and/or modified fixed route service.
- Analyze demographic data, passenger use data and future service projections to determine the need for amenity improvements (bus stops, shelters, sidewalks, etc.); maintain inventory of all bus stop locations for use in mapping and performance measurement reporting.
- Generate maps and analyze spatial data using Transit planning software and forecast travel patterns.
- Work with the Title VI Coordinator to develop public outreach activities and prepare media releases for planned service improvements. Coordinate the design and production of printed/electronic materials for advertising service changes and special services.
- Participate in public meetings to explain planning proposals and service improvements and gather feedback.
- Record daily mileage numbers and maintain a log of exceptions for the purpose of monthly reporting to NTD and reconciliation with maintenance software.
- Maintain database of all route changes and update system mapping to ensure deadhead and revenue mileage is accurate for NTD reporting. Work with external map developers to ensure maps/schedules are updated in advance of service changes.
- Analyze scheduled versus actual operator payroll hours to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements/schedule changes.
- Administer various survey instruments (mystery riders, customer surveys, etc.) to analyze and measure the quality of transit services and programs; oversee ride check survey program for annual APC validation.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Please Note: Candidates selected for hire will be required to submit proof of education prior to a firm job offer being made. Therefore, to avoid delays in the hiring process, it is strongly recommended that you attach a copy of your official graduation certificate(s) from higher level institution(s) at the time of your application submission.
Experience:
Four years increasingly responsible experience in public administration, business administration, public transit administration, geography, planning or a related field.
Training:
Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in geography, planning, marketing or a related field.
LICENSING & CERTIFICATIONS:
Required:
None.
Preferred:
None.
From the time of closing, the selection process is anticipated to last approximately 4 - 6 weeks. The process will consist of a panel interview with the selected candidate being subject to a pre-employment drug screen, background check and driving check.
The City of Fayetteville Employee Healthcare Benefit Plan provides comprehensive and affordable health and dental coverage while maintaining reasonable costs to employees. Coverage is available for all regular status employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. The premium is deducted on a pre-tax basis, with the City paying a portion of the premium. Qualifying employees are eligible for benefits on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of service.
Employer Paid Leave
Vacation Leave:
Regular employees begin accruing vacation leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on years of service
and the number of hours an employee is scheduled to work.
Sick Leave:
Regular employees begin accruing sick leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on the number of hours
scheduled to work; regular full-time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month. Sick leave hours accumulate without
limits and may be used toward creditable service upon retirement from the NC Local Governmental Retirement System.
Holidays:
The City of Fayetteville observes 12 paid holidays per calendar year. When Christmas day is on a Wednesday, an
additional holiday is provided making for 13 paid holidays.
Bereavement:
Regular employees are eligible for bereavement leave. The City will authorize 24 hours per calendar year to mourn or
attend a funeral or memorial service of a family member.
Retirement:
The City of Fayetteville assists employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the NC
Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular employees
scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member
of this system, employees are required to contribute 6% of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.
Deferred Compensation Plans:
To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These
programs enable regular full-time, and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week, an opportunity to save a
portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefits. These programs are the NC 401(k)
plan and NC 457 plan; both administered by Empower. The City currently contributes 4% of base salary to an eligible
employee’s NC 401(k) account.
Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits:
Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:
- > Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (pre-tax)
- > Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- > Optional Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Death Benefit:
The first year an employee contributes to the retirement system, the City provides a death benefit of $3,000 once the
employee is benefits eligible. After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided
by the NC Retirement System that is equal to the highest 12 months’ salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no
less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit.
Pay Periods / Deduction for Benefits / Direct Deposit:
City employees are paid bi-weekly (every other Friday). Benefit deductions are taken for 24 pay periods of the year. As an added convenience and safety measure, the City requires all new employees to sign up for direct deposit.
Employee Assistance Program:
The EAP is available at no cost to all employees and their household members. The EAP provides confidential guidance
on legal, financial and personal issues affecting your health, relationships and job.
A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION.
The City of Fayetteville is currently recruiting for a Transit Planner to perform complex technical analysis in support of Transit Department operations, to include the development and implementation of route schedules and service plans, analyzing data involving Transit Operator work assignments, and development and maintenance of a variety of databases and programs associated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Automatic Passenger Counts (APC) and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate and perform research and analysis leading to the development of new and improved transit routes, to include routing patterns, travel patterns, stop activity, ridership trends, etc.
- Assist in the development of short- and long-range plans for the implementation of new and/or modified fixed route service.
- Analyze demographic data, passenger use data and future service projections to determine the need for amenity improvements (bus stops, shelters, sidewalks, etc.); maintain inventory of all bus stop locations for use in mapping and performance measurement reporting.
- Generate maps and analyze spatial data using Transit planning software and forecast travel patterns.
- Work with the Title VI Coordinator to develop public outreach activities and prepare media releases for planned service improvements. Coordinate the design and production of printed/electronic materials for advertising service changes and special services.
- Participate in public meetings to explain planning proposals and service improvements and gather feedback.
- Record daily mileage numbers and maintain a log of exceptions for the purpose of monthly reporting to NTD and reconciliation with maintenance software.
- Maintain database of all route changes and update system mapping to ensure deadhead and revenue mileage is accurate for NTD reporting. Work with external map developers to ensure maps/schedules are updated in advance of service changes.
- Analyze scheduled versus actual operator payroll hours to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements/schedule changes.
- Administer various survey instruments (mystery riders, customer surveys, etc.) to analyze and measure the quality of transit services and programs; oversee ride check survey program for annual APC validation.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Please Note: Candidates selected for hire will be required to submit proof of education prior to a firm job offer being made. Therefore, to avoid delays in the hiring process, it is strongly recommended that you attach a copy of your official graduation certificate(s) from higher level institution(s) at the time of your application submission.
Experience:
Four years increasingly responsible experience in public administration, business administration, public transit administration, geography, planning or a related field.
Training:
Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in geography, planning, marketing or a related field.
LICENSING & CERTIFICATIONS:
Required:
None.
Preferred:
None.
From the time of closing, the selection process is anticipated to last approximately 4 - 6 weeks. The process will consist of a panel interview with the selected candidate being subject to a pre-employment drug screen, background check and driving check.
The City of Fayetteville Employee Healthcare Benefit Plan provides comprehensive and affordable health and dental coverage while maintaining reasonable costs to employees. Coverage is available for all regular status employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. The premium is deducted on a pre-tax basis, with the City paying a portion of the premium. Qualifying employees are eligible for benefits on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of service.
Employer Paid Leave
Vacation Leave:
Regular employees begin accruing vacation leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on years of service
and the number of hours an employee is scheduled to work.
Sick Leave:
Regular employees begin accruing sick leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on the number of hours
scheduled to work; regular full-time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month. Sick leave hours accumulate without
limits and may be used toward creditable service upon retirement from the NC Local Governmental Retirement System.
Holidays:
The City of Fayetteville observes 12 paid holidays per calendar year. When Christmas day is on a Wednesday, an
additional holiday is provided making for 13 paid holidays.
Bereavement:
Regular employees are eligible for bereavement leave. The City will authorize 24 hours per calendar year to mourn or
attend a funeral or memorial service of a family member.
Retirement:
The City of Fayetteville assists employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the NC
Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular employees
scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member
of this system, employees are required to contribute 6% of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.
Deferred Compensation Plans:
To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These
programs enable regular full-time, and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week, an opportunity to save a
portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefits. These programs are the NC 401(k)
plan and NC 457 plan; both administered by Empower. The City currently contributes 4% of base salary to an eligible
employee’s NC 401(k) account.
Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits:
Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:
- > Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (pre-tax)
- > Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- > Optional Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Death Benefit:
The first year an employee contributes to the retirement system, the City provides a death benefit of $3,000 once the
employee is benefits eligible. After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided
by the NC Retirement System that is equal to the highest 12 months’ salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no
less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit.
Pay Periods / Deduction for Benefits / Direct Deposit:
City employees are paid bi-weekly (every other Friday). Benefit deductions are taken for 24 pay periods of the year. As an added convenience and safety measure, the City requires all new employees to sign up for direct deposit.
Employee Assistance Program:
The EAP is available at no cost to all employees and their household members. The EAP provides confidential guidance
on legal, financial and personal issues affecting your health, relationships and job.
See All 106+ Planner Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Planner JobsPlanner Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Planner Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Automotive
- Food & Beverage
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in planner jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's degree in urban planning, transportation, supply chain, or a related field
- AICP certification or active pursuit of it preferred for urban and transportation planning roles
- Proficiency in GIS software, particularly ArcGIS, for spatial analysis and mapping
- Experience with North Carolina Department of Transportation project workflows or state agency processes
- Strong written communication skills for public presentations, reports, and agency correspondence
- Familiarity with federal and North Carolina state environmental review and permitting processes
Planner Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a planner in North Carolina?
The primary path depends on the planning specialty. For urban and regional planning roles, most North Carolina employers require a bachelor's degree in planning, geography, or public administration, with larger agencies and municipalities preferring candidates who hold or are pursuing the AICP credential through the American Institute of Certified Planners. Supply chain and production planners typically need a business or engineering degree. No state-issued license is required, but AICP certification significantly improves hiring prospects at county and municipal agencies.
Which companies hire planners in North Carolina?
Companies currently hiring planners in North Carolina include ArborMetrics Solutions, Advance Auto Parts, and Belk, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. North Carolina's mix of state agencies, rapidly growing municipalities, and large logistics and energy employers means openings appear across both the public and private sectors with consistent frequency.
Which North Carolina cities have the most planner jobs?
Raleigh, Charlotte, and Durham have the most planner openings in North Carolina. Charlotte's rapid population growth and major infrastructure projects drive strong demand, Raleigh and the broader Research Triangle attract transportation and land use planners as the region expands, and smaller metros appear on the list because of large anchor employers, county government offices, or active state agency field operations based there.
Are there remote planner jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, though they are more common for some specialties than others. About 57% of planner openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that planning is a mixed-mode field. Supply chain and production planning roles at corporate employers tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while transportation and land use planners at state agencies and county governments typically require in-person or hybrid schedules due to site visits and public meeting requirements.
How can I get hired as a planner in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through internships or junior analyst roles at North Carolina county planning departments or the North Carolina Department of Transportation, both of which regularly bring on early-career candidates. Wake County, Mecklenburg County, and the City of Raleigh run structured internship programs and occasionally post entry-level planning technician openings that do not require prior professional experience. Building GIS skills and completing coursework toward AICP eligibility strengthens a candidate's profile considerably before applying to these roles.
Where can I find and apply to planner jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to planner jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search by city or specialty to narrow the results to roles that fit your background, then apply directly to the ones that match your experience and target employers.
See All 106+ Planner Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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