Urban Planning Degree in Salt Lake City, UT — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Salt Lake City, UT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Salt Lake City, UT Overview
While Salt Lake City has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Urban Planning students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $17,800/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Salt Lake City is approximately $56,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,222/yr
Private Tuition
$38,396/yr
Room & Board
$17,800/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,636/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Urban Planning Salary in Salt Lake City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salt Lake City's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Salt Lake City adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Salt Lake City
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Salt Lake City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,222 | Private avg: $38,396
Salt Lake City avg aid: $10,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,800
vs HS diploma in Salt Lake City
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salt Lake City
$362,312
Lifetime earnings premium ($470,400) minus total education cost ($108,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Salt Lake City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salt Lake City for Urban Planning
University of Utah
public
$9,222/yr
$36,888 total
Westminster University
private
$38,396/yr
$153,584 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Salt Lake Community College
$4,116/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salt Lake City Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Utah Cities
West Valley City, UT
$49K starting · COL 98.5
6 colleges
West Jordan, UT
$50K starting · COL 99.8
5 colleges
Provo, UT
$65K starting · COL 130
7 colleges
Orem, UT
$61K starting · COL 122
4 colleges
Sandy, UT
$52K starting · COL 103.8
4 colleges
St. George, UT
$63K starting · COL 125
2 colleges
Ogden, UT
$52K starting · COL 103
5 colleges
Layton, UT
$49K starting · COL 97.8
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Salt Lake City
International Relations
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$56K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$56K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Salt Lake City — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Urban Planning ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Salt Lake City.