What does a town planner do?
Town planners create and put into practice the policies that guide the development and regeneration of urban and rural areas. Whether based in local government, private consultancies or development firms, they strike a balance between economic growth, environmental protection and community needs.
Key responsibilities include preparing local development plans, advising on land use and working with stakeholders to make sure schemes comply with planning regulations. Many town planners specialise in areas such as transport, housing or heritage, and they are instrumental in shaping long-term infrastructure and public space strategy. A good understanding of policy, consultation processes and planning law is essential.
How much does a town planner earn?
In 2026, the average town planner salary in the private sector is £35,000 per year, within a range of £30,000 to £38,000. Graduate town planners earn around £28,000 and assistant town planners £30,000, while senior town planners average £45,000, principal town planners £55,000 and associate town planners £60,000. At management level, associate directors earn around £68,000 and planning directors average £85,000, while client-side heads of planning can earn up to £150,000.
In public sector contract positions, planning officers earn £26 to £45 per hour (typically £35), rising to an average of £45 per hour for senior planning officers and £55 per hour for principal planning officers.
These figures come from Carrington West's salary surveys, created every 6 months to give built environment professionals invaluable market analysis and salary benchmarking resources. View and download the full documents below.
What industries do town planners work in?
Carrington West places town planners in permanent and contract roles with leading clients across the town planning sector. |
Use the link below to search for town planner roles with both public and private sector organisations across the UK through Carrington West's job search.