Urban Planner
Design Canada's cities - housing, transit, sustainability, and community development.
Urban Planner Salary in Canada
Urban Planners in Canada earn about $60,000 at entry level and around $120,000 in senior roles.
- Entry level: $60,000
- Senior level: $120,000
Municipal government urban planners earn stable salaries. Private sector planners often earn more.
About the Career
Canada's housing crisis keeps planning in the spotlight, but hiring depends on municipal budgets - Job Bank rates prospects moderate to limited across provinces.
Job Outlook
Stable demand. Canada's housing crisis keeps planning in the spotlight, but hiring depends on municipal budgets - Job Bank rates prospects moderate to limited across provinces.
How to Get There
- 4-yr BA or BSc (Urban Planning, Geography, or related) + often a 2-yr Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
- Time to career: 4-6 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Urban Planning – high 70s to high 80s
- Geography – mid to high 80s
- Architecture – mid to high 80s - portfolio is required
Key Skills
- Land Use & Transportation Planning
- GIS & Spatial Analysis
- Community Consultation
- Zoning & Policy Knowledge
- Project Management
Typical Employers
- Municipal planning departments
- Provincial & regional governments
- Planning & engineering consultancies
- Developers & real estate firms
- NGOs & community groups
High School Roadmap
- Explore your local city's official plan on the municipal website. Research transit and housing policy.
- Volunteer with community organisations involved in local development.
- Research TMU's Urban and Regional Planning program - one of Canada's best.
- Apply to planning, geography, or environmental studies programs.
Top Universities for This Path
- Toronto Metropolitan University – Toronto, ON
- McGill University – Montreal, QC
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON
- Queen's University – Kingston, ON
Insider Tips
- TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) has Canada's most recognised urban planning program.
- Canada's housing crisis has dramatically increased demand for planners.
- The RPP (Registered Professional Planner) designation requires a combination of education and experience.