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Community Planner

Community planners study the social, economic, cultural, environmental, political, and physical conditions of urban and rural communities. They develop policies and plans to manage and protect specific land parcels, regions, resources, or public services.

Also Known As

(City / Conservation / Consultation / Engagement / Indigenous / Land Use / Park / Policy / Regional / Resource / Strategic / Urban / Watershed) Planner

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 2153: Urban and Land Use Planners

2006 NOC-S

  • C053: Urban and Land Use Planners

2011 NOC

  • 2153: Urban and land use planners

2016 NOC

  • 2153: Urban and land use planners

2021 NOC

  • 21202: Urban and land use planners

2023 OaSIS

  • 21202.00: Urban and land use planners
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Community planners support civic leaders, industry sectors, and citizens to envision, develop, and realize new possibilities. They focus on:

  • Subdivision and urban design
  • Public facilities and services, such as including schools and healthcare centres
  • Public, stakeholder, and Indigenous consultation
  • Transportation and transit
  • Parks and recreation
  • Heritage preservation and tourism
  • Urban and rural revitalization
  • Community and regional economic development
  • Municipal, regional, resource, or policy planning
  • Current or long-range planning
  • Environmental impact assessment and conservation
  • Commercial or industrial developments
  • Intensive agricultural operations

Duties therefore vary widely. In general, community planners prepare policies and statutory plans, community plans, strategic plans or policies, and land use bylaws. They regulate and guide community development by:

  • Conducting urban design studies, population studies, and other research about human settlements
  • Anticipating change to help communities meet challenges such as the social, physical, and environmental impacts of population growth
  • Developing plans, policies, and guidelines for developments or subdivisions that account for public, private, individual, and community interests
  • Preparing or reviewing proposals with an eye to innovation
  • Conferring with local authorities, civic leaders, landowners, and land surveyors
  • Consulting with architects, engineers, developers, social scientists, lawyers, and other professionals
  • Planning and facilitating public and stakeholder participation processes
  • Developing sustainable responses and processes to address emerging issues such as climate change and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
  • Designing sustainable, adaptive, and resilient communities that create better choices for where people live and work
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Most planners work standard office hours in an office environment. Occasionally, they may work evenings or weekends to meet project deadlines or attend meetings. These could include consultation with other professionals or with stakeholders.

Planners often are expected to make site visits to locations proposed for development, redevelopment, conservation, or other uses.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
I
Investigative
This occupation
You
E
Enterprising
A
Artistic
This occupation
You

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Your Work Personalities

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Urban and land use planners
2023 OaSIS: 21202.00

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Community planners need:

  • The ability to consider many points of view
  • Analytical and decision-making skills
  • Interpersonal and communication skills
  • A commitment to protecting and serving the public interest

They should enjoy synthesizing information, developing innovative proposals, and presenting plans and proposals. They should be comfortable collaborating with others.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Urban and land use planners

2016 NOC: 2153

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 31 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 11, 2022 and May 06, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Experience: 3 years to less than 5 years
Green Job: Involves duties and responsibilities that lead to positive environmental outcomes
Excellent written communication
Reliability
Organized
Excellent oral communication
Effective interpersonal skills
Initiative
Attention to detail
Personal Suitability: Team player
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Minimum Education 4 years post-secondary

Planning requires knowledge in diverse fields, including:

  • Community design
  • Communications
  • Relationship-building
  • Strategic analysis
  • Demographics
  • Economics
  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Social sciences
  • Ecology
  • Geography
  • Design of physical environments

For this reason, planners may come from a variety of academic backgrounds. Some have a master’s of planning (M.Plan) degree or equivalent. Others have a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (B.Sc.) degree in planning or a related discipline. Related fields could include urban studies, urban and regional planning, or geography.

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Certification Provincially regulated

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Community Planner

Community planners study the social, economic, political and physical conditions of urban and rural communities, and lead efforts to adapt to and manage forces that affect communities, regional landscapes and resources.

Legislation

Registered Professional Planner is a protected title under Alberta’s Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act [pdf] and Professional Planner Regulation [pdf]. This means that to call yourself a Registered Professional Planner or RPP, you must be a certified and registered member of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI).

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Community Planner.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Community planners may work for:

  • Provincial government departments and agencies
  • Federal government departments and agencies
  • Municipal governments (such as towns, counties, or cities)
  • Inter-municipal service agencies
  • School boards
  • Indigenous communities or organizations
  • Land development companies
  • Research and policy institutions (such as universities or think tanks)
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Large corporations in industries such as resources or utilities
  • Organizations such as economic development authorities
  • Consulting companies related to planning and engineering

Experienced planners may advance to management positions such as planning director. Planning directors supervise other planners, advise and assist in developing policies, and may serve on planning boards.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Urban and land use planners
2016 NOC: 2153

76.8% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Urban and land use planners
2021 NOC: 21202
Balanced
Job Market
2,700
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Urban and land use planners
2016 NOC: 2153
2.2%
Annual Growth
(Below average)
47
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2020

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Urban and land use planners

2021 NOC: 21202
Average Wage
$51.53
Per Hour
Average Salary
$98,901.00
Per Year
Average Hours
37
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 21202 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $32.64 $53.52 $41.64 $39.30
Overall $33.85 $73.00 $51.53 $48.08
Top $42.57 $76.76 $58.88 $58.90

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
53%
53%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
24%
24%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
6%
6%
Vacancy Rate
4%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Engineering, Architecture and Related Studies
  • Environment, Forestry and Related Studies
  • Social Sciences, Law and Religious Studies
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Alberta Professional Planners Institute website: www.albertaplanners.com

Canadian Institute of Planners website: www.cip-icu.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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