Now is a great time for a career in planning. Jobs are available across the UK and the government is investing more in planning than it has for the past 20 years. This is reflected in competitive salaries both in the public and private sectors.

Public Sector

In the public sector, starting annual salaries for newly-qualified planners (Graduate Planners or Assistant Planners) can range from £14,000 to nearly £27,000, with an average salary of about £20,000. Members of the RTPI (chartered town planners) will often start higher in the salary scales than non-members. Senior Planners can expect to earn between £20,000 and £34,000, with an average of about £29,000, and Principal Planners and Team Leaders can earn between £29,000 and £41,000, with an average salary of about £34,000. Chief Planning Officers, Heads of Departments and Directors can earn between £55,000 and £80,000, with an average salary of about £64,000. The higher salaries in these ranges are paid by local authorities where there is a scarcity of planners, for example London boroughs or local authorities in the South East.

Public sector employment carries with it excellent benefits such as generous annual leave and pension schemes (some are final salary schemes), essential car user allowances, flexible working hours and job share. In London, public sector employers will often provide interest-free season ticket loans.

In terms of career progression in the public sector, Assistant/Graduate Planners can move to Senior Planner posts after gaining three to five years of experience. Progression may be quicker once planners become chartered, i.e. once they gain Chartered Membership of the RTPI. It is possible to specialise in different areas of planning (see our career profiles) and move between departments within the same organisation or to move into managerial posts. There are also opportunities to move between public sector employers, between private sector employers or between the two sectors.

Private Sector

Pay in the private sector should be comparable to that in the public sector. There may not be set scales and individual salaries may be a matter for negotiation with the employer. Holiday entitlements and pension schemes are likely to be less generous than those in the public sector.

Author:

Dushy Large

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

10-Jan-07

Categories:

Planning as a Career 

Sections:

Education & Careers

This article has been read 22866 times.