Land planner

About this occupation

Land planners visit sites in order to create projects and plans for land usage and development. They collect and analyse data about the land. Land planners provide advice on the efficiency and safety of development plans.

• Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
• Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
• Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
• Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
• Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
• Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.

Typical education (US)

Master's Degree

Preparation

Job Zone 5 of 5

Interests

Investigative, Enterprising, Conventional

Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis

US median pay: US$89,320 a year (2025), 44,230 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Subjects this work relies on

How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).

• Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentExtremely important (4.6)
• English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.4)
• GeographyO*NET: GeographyVery important (4.2)
• Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaVery important (3.6)
• Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.4)
• SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.4)
• Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.0)
• Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.0)

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Preparation needed

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Most common education (US)

Master's Degree

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.