Urban Planning Degree in Seattle, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Urban Planning degree analysis for Seattle, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Seattle
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Urban Planning in Seattle, WA Overview
Seattle, Washington (pop. 737,015) has 16 colleges offering Urban Planning programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,508/month. Urban Planning has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Zoning and Transportation Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Seattle is approximately $60,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,076/yr
Private Tuition
$49,119/yr
Room & Board
$18,145/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,675/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
68%
Urban Planning Salary in Seattle (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Seattle's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Urban Planning salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Seattle adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Urban Planning ROI Calculator for Seattle
Estimate your return on investment for a Urban Planning degree using local Seattle tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,076 | Private avg: $49,119
Seattle avg aid: $10,675/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,884
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,000
vs HS diploma in Seattle
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Seattle
$383,116
Lifetime earnings premium ($504,000) minus total education cost ($120,884)
Student Loan Payoff for Urban Planning in Seattle
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Seattle for Urban Planning
University of Washington
public
$12,076/yr
$48,304 total
Seattle University
private
$51,435/yr
$205,740 total
Seattle Pacific University
private
$46,803/yr
$187,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Seattle Central College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Urban Planning in Seattle
Seattle offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Urban Planning graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Seattle Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Urban Planning Job Titles
Urban Planning in Nearby Washington Cities
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Seattle
International Relations
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Geography
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$60K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$60K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$53K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning Degree in Seattle — 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 Seattle.