# Transportation Planners

> Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-planners
- SOC code: 19-3099.01
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $101,110 (10th percentile $66,120, 90th percentile $160,300)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, -0.2%
- Openings a year: 2,700
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Social scientists and related workers, all other".

## Interest profile (code ICR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 43 |
| Investigative (I) | 77 |
| Artistic (A) | 17 |
| Social (S) | 13 |
| Enterprising (E) | 36 |
| Conventional (C) | 65 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 94/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 90/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 84/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 84/100)
- Processing Information (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 79/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Systems Evaluation, Coordination

## Knowledge

Transportation, English Language, Mathematics, Geography, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Engineering and Technology, Customer and Personal Service, Design

## Also called

Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS), Fleet Coordinator, Planner, Program Officer, Traffic Analyst, Transit Planner, Transportation Analyst, Transportation Consultant, Transportation Data Programs Manager, Transportation Designer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1907) (CIP 1907, 1,004 colleges)
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4501) (CIP 4501, 547 colleges)
- [Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1601) (CIP 1601, 538 colleges)
- [Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5132) (CIP 5132, 352 colleges)
- [Sustainability Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3033) (CIP 3033, 279 colleges)
- [Public Policy Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4405) (CIP 4405, 242 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Gerontology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3011) (CIP 3011, 176 colleges)
- [Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1306) (CIP 1306, 166 colleges)
- [Social Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4599) (CIP 4599, 164 colleges)
- [Behavioral Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3017) (CIP 3017, 144 colleges)
- [Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3023) (CIP 3023, 136 colleges)
- [Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3005) (CIP 3005, 113 colleges)
- [Geography and Environmental Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3044) (CIP 3044, 67 colleges)
- [Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3026) (CIP 3026, 55 colleges)
- [Human Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3027) (CIP 3027, 42 colleges)
- [Biopsychology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3010) (CIP 3010, 28 colleges)
- Demography (CIP 4505, 22 colleges)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (CIP 3051, 22 colleges)
- History and Political Science (CIP 3046, 21 colleges)
- Holocaust and Related Studies (CIP 3021, 13 colleges)
- Anthrozoology (CIP 3034, 5 colleges)
- Linguistics and Anthropology (CIP 3047, 4 colleges)
- Geoarcheaology (CIP 3042, 3 colleges)
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature (CIP 3040, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Public Policy Analysis | $91,332 | $126,767 | $12,696 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Public Policy Analysis | $75,701 | $107,792 | not reported |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Social Sciences, General | $74,534 | $103,229 | $15,000 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Public Policy Analysis | $70,713 | $103,071 | $13,625 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Social Sciences, Other | $66,107 | $101,138 | $13,081 |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Public Policy Analysis | $62,208 | $94,237 | $12,250 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Social Sciences, General | $51,431 | $91,917 | $21,125 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Sustainability Studies | $80,080 | $85,545 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Transportation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-engineers): $100,840 median pay
- [Urban and Regional Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/urban-and-regional-planners): $89,320 median pay
- [Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-storage-and-distribution-managers): $107,230 median pay
- [Logistics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/logistics-engineers): $82,320 median pay
- [Logisticians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/logisticians): $82,320 median pay
- [Traffic Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/traffic-technicians): $59,090 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.