Urban Planner Jobs
Urban Planner jobs are open across local government, consulting firms, nonprofit agencies, and real estate development, from entry-level analyst to principal and director, with specializations in transportation planning, land use, and community development. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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City of Spartanburg, South Carolina
Position: Senior Urban Planner
Job Summary: The City of Spartanburg is seeking a motivated planning professional to join its growing Planning Department. Spartanburg is at an exciting point in its evolution. The city is experiencing a period where public and private investment is reshaping downtown and creating opportunities across the community. This role provides the opportunity to collaborate with a dedicated team on longrange planning initiatives, support thoughtful growth, and advance the City’s vision. As part of a dedicated team, this role will play a central role in a broad range of planning, zoning, and development initiatives. The Senior Planner will be instrumental in advancing the strategic vision outlined in the City’s 2023 Comprehensive Plan and ensuring that Code Spartanburg, the current zoning code update, aligns with the plan’s goals and priorities. The Senior Planner will partner with the Planning Director to advance departmental goals while independently managing project responsibilities. Some current efforts include the zoning code rewrite, updates and optimization of planning processes, review of historic district guidelines; as well as a variety of signature projects in the core of downtown, and supporting neighborhood and corridor enhancements.
Salary Range: DOQ – Starting at $75,000
Additional Information can be found here
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in urban planner jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in urban planning, public policy, or a related field
- Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS for spatial analysis and mapping
- Knowledge of zoning codes, land use regulations, and the entitlement review process
- Experience preparing staff reports, environmental documents, or comprehensive plan elements
- AICP certification or active pursuit of certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for public hearings and stakeholder engagement
Tips for Your Urban Planner Job Search
Tailor your resume to project types
Urban planner roles vary sharply between transportation, housing, and zoning work. Reorganize your experience section for each application so the most relevant project types appear first. Recruiters scan for keywords like NEPA, General Plan, or TOD depending on the agency.
Include GIS proficiency front and center
Most urban planner postings list GIS as a required skill, not a bonus. Name the specific tools you use, whether ArcGIS, QGIS, or ArcGIS Pro, and mention any spatial analysis or mapping deliverables you produced. Vague references to mapping software get skipped.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists urban planner openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter by agency type before applying
Public-sector urban planner roles and private consulting positions call for different emphases. Municipal jobs weight regulatory knowledge and public engagement, while consulting firms want project management and client-facing deliverables. Match your cover letter framing before you submit.
Prepare a portfolio with real plan excerpts
Bring two or three sample work products to interviews, such as a staff report, a zoning amendment write-up, or a community engagement summary. Hiring panels for urban planner positions respond to tangible examples far more than a list of responsibilities.
Negotiate scope alongside salary
Urban planner compensation often has little flexibility in the public sector, but project assignment and professional development budgets are negotiable. Ask specifically about conference attendance, AICP exam reimbursement, and whether you can work across planning divisions early in your tenure.
Urban Planner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most urban planners?
The companies hiring the most urban planners right now include South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (SCAPA), Ulteig, and Stantec, with the largest share of openings in California, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal planning departments and regional consulting firms consistently account for the largest share of active postings.
How many urban planner jobs are remote?
About 100% of urban planner openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though most roles include some in-person requirement for public hearings, site visits, or agency meetings. Policy-focused and long-range planning positions tend to offer more remote flexibility than current planning or permitting roles tied to a specific jurisdiction.
How do you become an urban planner?
Start with a bachelor's degree in urban planning, geography, public administration, or a closely related field, then pursue a master's in urban or regional planning if you want to work at larger agencies or in specialized areas like transportation or housing policy. Build GIS skills, intern with a local planning department or consulting firm, and work toward AICP certification once you have enough professional hours to qualify.
How do you get hired as an urban planner with little or no experience?
Apply to planning technician, planning aide, or associate planner roles, which are explicitly designed for candidates early in their careers. Volunteer or intern with a community development organization or regional planning agency to build a portfolio of real work products. Emphasize coursework projects that involved GIS analysis, public engagement, or zoning research, and tailor each application to the specific plan type the agency works on.
What does the urban planner interview process look like?
Most urban planner hiring processes include a written application screening, a panel interview with planners and sometimes elected officials or department heads, and occasionally a short written exercise or presentation on a planning scenario. Public-sector interviews often follow structured question formats with scored responses. Private consulting firms may move faster and focus more on project management skills and client communication alongside technical planning knowledge.
Where can I find and apply to urban planner jobs?
You can find and apply to urban planner jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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