Urban and Regional Planner salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 16 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Matteson.
Also listed as: Urban Designer, Urban Planner
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,749 |
| 25th | $80,704 |
| 50th (median) | $91,499 |
| 75th | $95,887 |
| 90th | $101,503 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Urban and Regional Planner salary of $91,499 is worth about $88,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Urban and Regional Planners in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $98,840 in May 2025 (800 employed). The H-1B median here is $91,499, 7% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates | too few | 3 |
| WSP | too few | 2 |
| Metropolitan Planning Council | too few | 2 |
| SB Friedman Development Advisors | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.