Transportation Planners

Employers

Transportation planners work for government agencies. They may work for companies that provide architectural and engineering services. They also work for environmental planning groups, conservation organizations, and companies that offer general technical services, such as geographic information system (GIS) mapping or cartography. They may work as employees or as independent contractors. Transportation planners share some of the same tasks and responsibilities as those of urban and regional planners. In May 2019, there were approximately 38,560 urban and regional planners employed in the United States, according to the Department of Labor.

Starting Out

Transportation planners often get their start through an entry-level job in transportation planning or through an internship while in school. They find jobs through professional associations, by searching for jobs posted on companies' Web sites, and through sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, SimplyHired, and others. Ask your school's career services office for help with finding job opportunities. Use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, to learn about job openings and potential employers. For example, find transportation planner jobs on LinkedIn, at https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/transportation-planner-jobs.