We surveyed 1,267 urban planners to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical urban planner. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as an urban planner?
Low
High
Working as an urban planner typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that urban planners are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.
Can I learn to become an urban planner?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as an urban planner typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as an urban planner?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as an urban planner. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for urban planners.
Do urban planners work full-time or part-time?
77% of urban planners work in full-time roles while 23% work part-time.
Is being an urban planner stressful?
Low
High
Stress is not uncommon amongst urban planners, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.
Is being organized important as an urban planner?
Low
High
Organization is not considered a particuarly important part of being an urban planner.
How competitive is the workplace for urban planners?
Low
High
Competition at work is not common for urban planners.
Does being an urban planner require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for urban planners.
Are urban planners allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Urban planners rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.
Do urban planners have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
Urban planners tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.
Is being an urban planner physically demanding?
Low
High
Work as an urban planners is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.
Are urban planners exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
While sometimes repetitive, urban planners tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.
Does being an urban planner require attention to detail?
Low
High
Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as an urban planner.
Does being a good urban planner require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as an urban planner.