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Planning Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Planning Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Planning Director in the United States is $158,389 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $76.

However, a Planning Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $184,119
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $143,162 to $171,857
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $129,299
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Planning Director Salaries

A Planning Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Planning Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Planning Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $149,071
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $150,435
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $152,253
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $154,525
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,798
Levels Salary
Entry Level Planning Director$149,071
Intermediate Level Planning Director$150,435
Senior Level Planning Director$152,253
Specialist Level Planning Director$154,525
Expert Level Planning Director$156,798
View as Graph

How Do Planning Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Planning Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $175,368.
  • California: $174,703.
  • Massachusetts: $172,375.

Top Paying Cities for Planning Director

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $199,776
  • San Francisco: $197,589
  • Oakland: $193,425

What Skills Can Increase a Planning Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 53.68% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 0.92% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 53.68%
Microsoft Office 1.29%
Advertising 0.92%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Planning Director's salary.

  • Emotional Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Management Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Conflict Resolution: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Emotional Intelligence $194,818
23%
Management Skills $183,731
16%
Conflict Resolution $182,147
15%
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Planning Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Planning Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $177,307. While startup companies pay approximate $149,998.

Planning Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $149,998
Growth Stage 51~500 $158,640
Established 501~5000 $171,222
Enterprise 5000+ $177,307

Planning Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Planning Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Planning Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Planning Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Planning Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$190,067$91.020%
Biotechnology$190,067$91.020%
Business Services$190,067$91.020%
Chemicals$190,067$91.020%
Construction$190,067$91.020%

How Education impacts an Planning Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Planning Director enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Planning Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $171,423 and $187,863.

Planning Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Planning Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 3.7%
Associates 2.4%
Bachelors 33.3%
Masters 56.3%
Doctorate 3.5%
View as Graph

Planning Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Planning Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$143,162
Average $158,389/year
$171,857
$11,930
Average $13,199/month
$14,321
$2,753
Average $3,046/week
$3,305
$69
Average $76/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $171,857 $14,321 $3,305 $83
Average $158,389 $13,199 $3,046 $76
25th Percentile $143,162 $11,930 $2,753 $69

Planning Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Planning Director

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Planning Director, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Business Operations Strategy Director $216,861 37%
Digital Transformation Director $199,069 26%
Strategic Planning Director $218,744 38%

Most common benefits for Planning Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Planning Director

Here are companies hiring for Planning Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Planning Director

1. Where can a Planning Director earn the most?

A Planning Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Planning Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Planning Director is $199,776.

2. What is the highest pay for Planning Director?

The highest pay for Planning Director is $184,119.

3. What is the lowest pay for Planning Director?

The lowest pay for Planning Director is $129,299.

4. What are the responsibilities of Planning Director?

Directs and oversees the patient service planning function for a hospital or healthcare system. Performs analysis of trends in healthcare and makes recommendations for new services or changes in existing services. Supports feasibility analysis and new program planning. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Planning Director?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Planning Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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