Sources: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
North Carolina state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective February 1, 2026. These are the ranges North Carolina sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Community Planner I Class 32000876 · class description Grade NC11 | $45,431 – $79,504 a year |
| Transportation Planner I Class 32000895 · class description Grade NC12 | $47,703 – $83,479 a year |
| Transportation Planner II Class 32000896 · class description Grade NC13 | $50,088 – $87,654 a year |
| Community Planner II Class 32000877 · class description Grade NC14 | $52,592 – $92,036 a year |
| Community Planner III Class 32000878 · class description Grade NC17 | $60,881 – $106,544 a year |
Schedule: Salary Schedule NC. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), North Carolina Class Specifications and Graded Salary Schedules (DT, HP, LG, MH, NC, SW). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in North Carolina, all employers Sourced
Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051) in North Carolina, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NC |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,630 |
| 10th percentile | $58,830 |
| Median | $81,230 |
| 90th percentile | $112,110 |
| National median, government employers | $87,900 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for North Carolina
AICP Certification Exam (American Institute of Certified Planners)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Urban / City Planner page.