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Local Government
City of Los Angeles, City of Seattle, City of Austin
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
This job turns traffic counts, land-use data, and public feedback into plans for roads, transit, sidewalks, and other transportation projects. It sits between engineering, public policy, and community input, so the work is as much about choosing among competing priorities as it is about analyzing data. The main tradeoff is real: you may help shape better mobility, but you also have to work within tight budgets, political pressure, and shifting local priorities.
Also known as Transportation PlannerTransportation Planning AnalystTransportation AnalystTransportation Program AnalystTransportation Policy Analyst
Median Salary
$100,340
Mean $106,440
U.S. Workforce
~37K
3.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-1.7%
40.8K to 40.1K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other sits in the Government category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~37K workers, with a median annual pay of $100,340 and roughly 3.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 40.8 K in 2024 to 40.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Planning Assistant and can progress toward Planning Manager. High-value skills usually include Traffic Counts, Survey Data & Transportation Databases, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & Spatial Analysis, and Excel, SQL & Data Visualization, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Review traffic count data to find out which roads, intersections, or transit routes are overloaded.
- Study how zoning, land use, population growth, and environmental rules affect transportation choices.
- Work with engineers to solve design problems in roads, sidewalks, crossings, bus stops, and parking areas.
- Help build transportation plans that improve safety, access, and sustainability at the city, regional, or state level.
Keep exploring: more Government careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Review traffic count data to find out which roads, intersections, or transit routes are overloaded.
02 Study how zoning, land use, population growth, and environmental rules affect transportation choices.
03 Work with engineers to solve design problems in roads, sidewalks, crossings, bus stops, and parking areas.
04 Help build transportation plans that improve safety, access, and sustainability at the city, regional, or state level.
05 Update maps and planning records for city boundaries, street types, and roadway classifications.
06 Design surveys and gather public feedback to identify transportation problems and rank priorities.
Industries That Hire
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State Departments of Transportation
Caltrans, Texas Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Transportation
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Transportation Consulting & Engineering
WSP, AECOM, Jacobs
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Public Transit Agencies
MTA, LA Metro, TriMet
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Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Metropolitan Transportation Commission, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Atlanta Regional Commission
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for the education level: the median is $100,340 and the mean is $106,440.
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You can usually enter the field with a bachelor's degree, and BLS lists no required work experience or on-the-job training.
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The work is varied, mixing data analysis, mapping, meetings, and public input instead of doing the same task all day.
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You get to work on concrete projects such as intersection redesigns, pedestrian upgrades, bus facilities, and parking changes.
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Even in a small field with 36,970 workers, there are about 3.2 thousand annual openings, so people do move in and out of these jobs.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to dip from 40.8 thousand in 2024 to 40.1 thousand by 2034, a -1.7% change that signals a flat market.
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This is a small specialty with 36,970 current workers, so jobs can be concentrated in certain regions, agencies, or consulting firms.
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A lot of the work depends on public budgets, grants, and approvals, which can delay projects or change them after you have already done the analysis.
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Routine tasks like counting traffic, updating maps, and summarizing surveys can be standardized by software, which makes the most basic work easier to automate or outsource.
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Career growth can level off unless you move into management or add a master's degree; 45% of workers already have one, which can raise the bar for advancement.
Career Progression
Planning Assistant
0-2 years
$55K-$72K
Supports data entry, map updates, meeting notes, and basic research while learning how transportation projects are evaluated.
Transportation Planner
2-6 years
$73K-$116K
Analyzes traffic and survey data, drafts planning documents, and helps coordinate with engineers, agencies, and the public.
Senior Transportation Planner THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$117K-$145K
Leads studies, shapes project recommendations, and handles tougher stakeholder and technical issues.
Planning Manager
10+ years
$146K-$180K
Oversees planning teams, budgets, timelines, and high-level decisions on transportation programs and major projects.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The most common entry point, held by 55% of workers in this role.
Master's degree
A major alternative route, held by 45% of workers in this role.
Graduate certificate in transportation planning or GIS
A practical alternative if you already have a degree and want focused planning, mapping, or public-sector skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Traffic Counts, Survey Data & Transportation Databases 80%
ArcGIS Pro, QGIS & Spatial Analysis 78%
Excel, SQL & Data Visualization 77%
Travel Demand Modeling & Forecasting Software 75%
Transportation Planning, Zoning & Environmental Review Methods 73%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+-1.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 40.8K to 40.1 K over the next decade, representing -1.7% growth. Around 3.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.