Career Atlas USA

Best States for Urban and Regional Planners

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1Washington93.3 / 100
  2. 2Oregon88.9 / 100
  3. 3Arizona86.2 / 100
  4. 4California86 / 100
  5. 5Colorado85 / 100
  6. 6Massachusetts81.7 / 100
  7. 7Alaska77.7 / 100
  8. 8Wisconsin69.7 / 100
  9. 9Virginia69.6 / 100
  10. 10North Dakota68.7 / 100
  11. 11Minnesota68 / 100
  12. 12Montana66.7 / 100
  13. 13North Carolina64.3 / 100
  14. 14Hawaii58.3 / 100
  15. 15Connecticut55.6 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).