Transportation Planners

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 19-3099.01United States

Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $99,824
Projected change: +1.9%
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Employment: 44.79K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What transportation planners do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the 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.
Design transportation surveys to identify areas of public concern.
Interpret data from traffic modeling software, geographic information systems, or associated databases.
Collaborate with other professionals to develop sustainable transportation strategies at the local, regional, or national level.
Evaluate transportation project needs or costs.
Analyze information from traffic counting programs.
Review development plans for transportation system effects, infrastructure requirements, or compliance with applicable transportation regulations.
Prepare necessary documents to obtain planned project approvals or permits.
Produce environmental documents, such as environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.
Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications.
Develop or test new methods or models of transportation analysis.
Evaluate transportation-related consequences of federal or state legislative proposals.
Design new or improved transport infrastructure, such as junction improvements, pedestrian projects, bus facilities, or car parking areas.
Define or update information such as urban boundaries or classification of roadways.
Direct urban traffic counting programs.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $64,518
25th percentile: $79,456
50th percentile: $99,824
75th percentile: $129,385
90th percentile: $162,059

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $99,824 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+1.9%average or slower

202544,788 jobs

2035 projected45,652 jobs

864 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Bachelor's degree: 55%
Master's or Professional degree: 45%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Transportation Planning
Project Management
Data Analysis
Urban Planning
Supply Chain
Transportation Analysis
Continuous Improvement Process
Civil Engineering
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Logistics
Process Improvement
Finance
ArcGIS (GIS Software)
Transportation Management Systems
Regional Planning
Economics
Power BI
Data Collection
Dashboard
Procurement

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Transportation Planners630 postings
02Transportation Analysts559 postings
03Transportation Planning Managers223 postings
04Transportation Planning Interns92 postings
05Transportation Logistics Analysts61 postings
06Transportation Assistants51 postings
07Civil Transportation Engineers44 postings
08Planners42 postings
09Transportation Planners/Engineers38 postings
10Transportation Systems Analysts38 postings
11Planning Interns34 postings
12Load Planners28 postings
13Transit Planners28 postings
14Directors of Transportation Planning27 postings
15International Transportation Analysts25 postings
16Transportation Program Managers25 postings
17Operations Planners24 postings
18Planning Specialists23 postings
19Transportation Logistics Managers23 postings
20Transportation Routers23 postings

Top employers

01WSP Global75 postings
02Cardinal Health57 postings
03Kimley-Horn52 postings
04Amazon45 postings
05Jacobs Solutions37 postings
06Rk&K34 postings
07HDR28 postings
08AECOM25 postings
09HNTB25 postings
10Job Talent25 postings
11Mohawk Global Logistics24 postings
12ICF International22 postings
13State of California22 postings
14CDM Smith21 postings
15Stantec20 postings
16Boeing18 postings
17Fairfax County18 postings
18State Of Texas18 postings
19State of Minnesota16 postings
20Vanasse Hangen Brustlin16 postings

Keep looking

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Median pay: $82,771
Employment outlook: +11.6%

Air Traffic Controllers

Median pay: $148,075
Employment outlook: +4.8%

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Median pay: $58,076
Employment outlook: +8.4%

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Median pay: $79,397
Employment outlook: +5.9%