Average base salary, New Jersey
$109,000 / year
≈ $9,100 per month · $52.40 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for New Jersey · median $105,000
25th percentile
$93,000Average
$109,00075th percentile
$124,500
$93,000Average
$109,00075th percentile
$124,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Transportation Planner salary by state
Alabama$107,000
Arizona$104,500
Arkansas$77,000
California$107,500
Colorado$112,000
Delaware$112,500
District of Columbia$132,500
Florida$89,500
Georgia$101,500
Hawaii$100,500
Idaho$90,500
Illinois$103,500
Indiana$94,000
Iowa$100,500
Kansas$94,000
Kentucky$84,500
Louisiana$101,500
Maine$84,000
Maryland$131,000
Massachusetts$123,000
Michigan$92,500
Minnesota$100,500
Mississippi$93,000
Missouri$86,500
Montana$90,000
Nebraska$106,000
Nevada$101,000
New Hampshire$102,000
New Jersey$109,000
New Mexico$102,000
New York$109,000
North Carolina$94,000
North Dakota$76,500
Ohio$104,500
Oklahoma$92,000
Oregon$104,000
Pennsylvania$108,500
Rhode Island$97,000
South Carolina$91,500
South Dakota$88,000
Tennessee$94,500
Texas$111,500
Utah$98,500
Vermont$88,000
Virginia$149,000
Washington$116,000
West Virginia$98,500
Wisconsin$93,000
Wyoming$96,000
About this role
Transportation Planner is a professional role within the function in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Transportation Planners do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
- Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
- Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
- Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
- Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
Top skills: Writing Speaking Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Complex Problem Solving Active Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Transportation Planner pay by experience level
Entry level$68,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$83,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$104,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$134,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$166,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,200
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Transportation Planner salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
23,750 workers
$111,500Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
19,770 workers
$114,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
5,390 workers
$123,500Educational Services
5,000 workers
$99,000Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
4,320 workers
$97,000Scientific Research and Development Services
3,550 workers
$126,500Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,040 workers
$106,000Educational Services, Privately Owned
2,030 workers
$102,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,940 workers
$87,500Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
1,150 workers
$104,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Transportation Planner pays 11% above the average across 66 roles in the Life, Physical, and Social Science job family (family average $100,500).
Similar-paying roles in Life, Physical, and Social Science
Nuclear Monitoring Technician$112,500
Bioinformatics Scientist$110,000
Clinical Neuropsychologist$115,000
Hydrologist$107,000
Geographer$106,000
Chemist$104,000
Sociologist$119,000
Careers related to Transportation Planner
Civil Engineer$112,500
Urban and Regional Planners$98,000
Supply Chain Manager$126,000
Logistician$93,000
Traffic Technician$64,500
Project Management Specialist$114,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Transportation Planner make?
The average base salary for a Transportation Planner in the United States is $111,500 per year, or about $53.61 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $83,500 and $134,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
