Urban Planner.
Baltimore.
$90,000
median salary, 7% above the national average
$71,000 to $111,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Urban Planner pay in Baltimore ranges from $71,000 to $111,000 in 2026. The median is $90,000, 7% above the national average. Baltimore's economy is anchored by Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, one of the largest employers in the state. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Urban Planner in Baltimore, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $84,000 for Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051) in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan area, based on 420 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$61,660
25th percentile
$65,220
Median
$84,000
75th percentile
$104,780
90th percentile
$131,810
Workers surveyed
420
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051) rather than Urban Planner specifically. The Baltimore range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 19-3051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $81,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$59,000
to $72,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$77,000
to $95,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$99,000
to $117,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$113,000
to $140,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $23,000 to the total package.
Base
$90,000
Equity
$13,000
Bonus
$8,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $113,000
How Baltimore compares.
Baltimore, MD
$90,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$84,000
Baltimore is $6,000 above
Urban Planner salary by city.
Salary by role in Baltimore.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Urban Planner roles in Baltimore, here is what you are walking into. Baltimore's economy is anchored by Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, one of the largest employers in the state. The city has strong cybersecurity, defense, and biotech sectors, benefiting from proximity to NSA, Fort Meade, and NIH. The port of Baltimore also drives significant logistics and trade employment. Employer type and specialization area create the most variation. Planners in transportation, environmental, or economic development earn 10 to 20% more than generalists. Private consulting firms pay higher base salaries than municipalities but with less job security. AICP certification and GIS proficiency boost earning potential at all levels.
Junior planners start at $56,000 to $65,000. Senior planners with AICP certification earn $72,000 to $95,000 after five to seven years. Planning directors at municipalities reach $100,000 to $140,000, with community development directors exceeding $150,000 in large cities. In Baltimore, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Municipal planners receive generous public benefits, pension plans, and steady 2 to 4% annual step increases. Private sector planners earn 8 to 12% bonuses tied to project billing. Some jurisdictions offer housing assistance for planners working in high-cost areas. And on the tax side: maryland's top income tax rate is 5.75%, and Baltimore City adds a local income tax of 3.2%. The combined burden is among the higher ones, but federal and defense salaries compensate. When someone quotes you $90,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: A security clearance is extremely valuable in the Baltimore corridor. Cleared professionals earn 20 to 30% more, and the NSA and defense contractor presence drives constant demand. The range for Urban Planners in Baltimore runs from $71,000 to $111,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Logistics Coordinator in Baltimore earns $91,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Baltimore is CTO at $324,000
Common questions.
Urban Planner salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Baltimore.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Urban Planner Salary in Baltimore, MD." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/urban-planner/baltimore
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