This occupation is part of the Life, Physical, and Social Science cluster
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About the Job
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
It is also Called
- Airport Planner
- Building, Planning, and Zoning Director
- City Designer
- City Planner
- City Planning Engineer
- Community Development Director
- Community Development Planner
- Community Planning and Development Representative
- Director of Planning
- Economic Developer
What They Do
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables such as population density.
- Assess the feasibility of proposals and identify necessary changes.
- Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.
- Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.
- Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on projects.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: IEA.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Investigative interests, but also prefer Enterprising and Artistic environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Achievement and Working Conditions in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $80,750.00 with most people making between $52,780.00 and $113,880.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 8,900 people in California. It is projected that there will be 11,000 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 220 openings due to growth and about 230 replacement openings for approximately 450 total annual openings.
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