Transportation Planners
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
Also called: Planner · Program Officer · Transportation Analyst · Transportation Data Programs Manager · Transportation Planner
Median pay (national)
$100,340
$62,570–$160,810 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
36,970
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-1.7%
~3,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for transportation planners shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $160,810 versus $62,570 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $100,340 leaves roughly 60% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -1.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, Virginia pays the most for this role (median $144,320, +44% vs the national median), while North Dakota sits lowest at $72,550 — a 99% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags ESRI ArcGIS software, Geographic information system GIS systems, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Design transportation surveys to identify areas of public concern.
- Collaborate with other professionals to develop sustainable transportation strategies at the local, regional, or national level.
Tools & technology
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Power BI
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
- Structured query language SQL
- Tableau
- Transportation management system TMS software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
Knowledge areas
- Transportation
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology