Working as an Urban & Land Use Planner
Industry Overview
Approximately 1,800 people work as urban and land use planners in BC. The majority of these planners work in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.
There are limited employment opportunities for urban and land-use planners in British Columbia. Many urban and land use planners are employed by municipal or provincial governments.
Planners may specialize in areas such as urban, regional, environmental, or construction planning.
Job Outlook in BC
Urban and land use planners, 2021-2031
Chart from WorkBC
WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2021-2031:
| Region | Employment in 2021 |
Average Annual Employment Growth |
Expected Number of Job Openings |
| Vancouver Island | 450 | 1.2% | 140 |
| Lower Mainland / Southwest | 1,250 | 1.0% | 340 |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 220 | 1.2% | 60 |
| Kootenay | 60 | 0.7% | 10 |
| Cariboo | 50 | 1.1% | 10 |
| North Coast & Nechako | 30 | 1.0% | 10 |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.5% | 10 |
You can learn more about the urban and land use planning sector in BC from
Types of Employers
Urban and land use planners work in both the public service and the private sector, in a wide variety of fields including:
- Municipal and/or provincial governments
- Environmental resource management
- Land developers
- Engineering and other consulting companies
- Economic development
You may also be self-employed as a private consultant.
Salary & Working Hours
The median annual salary for Urban and Land Use Planners in BC is $82,506. Your earnings depend on a number of factors, including education, experience, employer, and geographic location. Planners who work in management positions tend to have the highest incomes.
In addition to a salary, planners who are employed full-time usually receive paid vacation, and health and dental benefits.
Sources: Work BC & Career Cruising
In BC regions you can expect to make:
Source: Job Bank Wage Report
Working Hours
Most planners work between 8 and 10 hours a day, 40 to 50 hours, Monday to Friday, although you may sometimes need to attend evening or weekend meetings or public hearings. If you work in the private sector you should be prepared to work outside of conventional office hours more frequently.