Career change as an urban planner
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 7 with on-the-job training and 1 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Head of an urban planning office
Also: Head of the urban development department
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of an office or department, you lead a planning team, steer urban development and land-use planning and present projects to the council and committees.
- What you bring:
- You know land-use planning, participation procedures and the political coordination of projects.
- How to get there:
- Municipalities advertise such positions and expect several years of experience, usually including leadership experience. For civil servant positions in the higher service (höherer Dienst), a traineeship (Referendariat) in urban planning or an equivalent qualification is required, depending on the state. There are also positions for employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€5,907gross per monthMedian salary
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Real estate project developer
Also: Project manager for neighborhood development
With on-the-job training
At project developers or housing companies, you help plan neighborhoods and buildings, assess sites and steer planning and permit processes.
- What you bring:
- You know what development plans allow, how permits proceed and how municipalities decide on projects.
- How to get there:
- Project developers and housing companies hire urban and regional planners directly, and you learn the basics of the real estate industry and calculation on the job or in courses. The work is more focused on business than in administration.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact€6,992gross per monthMedian salary
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Climate adaptation manager
Also: Climate protection manager
With on-the-job training
As climate protection or climate adaptation manager, you develop concepts for dealing with heat and heavy rain and for lowering emissions, and you support their implementation in the administration.
- What you bring:
- You can think about urban areas, green corridors, traffic and buildings together and know the planning instruments of municipalities.
- How to get there:
- Municipalities and districts often fill these positions through funding programs, and planners are hired directly. You learn about climate data and funding in further training and on the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€5,842gross per monthMedian salary
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GIS analyst
Also: Geodata manager
With on-the-job training
As a GIS analyst in administration, at utilities or in planning offices, you maintain and analyze geodata and create maps and analyses.
- What you bring:
- You work with maps, geodata and planning bases and know common GIS programs.
- How to get there:
- Employers also hire planners with GIS experience directly. You can deepen your knowledge of databases and programs such as QGIS or ArcGIS in courses lasting a few days to a few weeks. This does not entitle you to carry out official surveying, which is regulated separately.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,939gross per monthMedian salary
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Mobility consultant
Also: Consultant for corporate mobility management
With on-the-job training
As a mobility consultant, you help companies, universities or municipalities reorganize how employees and visitors travel.
- What you bring:
- You know travel demand, public transport, cycling and parking and can plan mobility using figures.
- How to get there:
- Consultancies, transport associations and energy agencies hire traffic planners directly. Courses in corporate mobility management take a few days to a few weeks. Some positions depend on funding programs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€6,917gross per monthMedian salary
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Regional manager
Also: Policy advisor for regional development
With on-the-job training
In regional management, economic development or a ministry, you develop strategies for regions and look after funded projects.
- What you bring:
- You know regional planning, funding programs and the cooperation of municipalities, districts and state.
- How to get there:
- Regional management offices, districts and ministries hire regional planners directly. You learn funding programs such as LEADER on the job; some positions are project-based.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€6,457gross per monthMedian salary
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Citizen participation officer
Also: Facilitator for participation procedures
With on-the-job training
As a participation officer, you organize and facilitate citizen dialogues for municipalities, grid operators or project developers and explain projects clearly.
- What you bring:
- You have presented plans publicly, processed objections and know where conflicts arise in construction projects.
- How to get there:
- Municipalities, participation offices and infrastructure companies hire planners directly. Facilitation and mediation courses lasting a few days to a few months help. Evening appointments are often part of the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,318gross per monthMedian salary
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Real estate valuation expert
Also: Appraiser for land values
With further training
As an expert appraiser, you determine market values of land and buildings for banks, courts, heirs or valuation committees (Gutachterausschüsse).
- What you bring:
- You know land-use planning, standard land values and building law and can assess what is possible on a plot.
- How to get there:
- The title of expert appraiser (Sachverständiger) is not protected, but a certification or a public appointment proves your qualification to clients. Courses in valuation usually run alongside work, and the duration depends on the provider. For public appointment (öffentliche Bestellung), the chamber examines your special expertise.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€6,992gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as an urban planner without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Head of an urban planning office, Real estate project developer, Climate adaptation manager, GIS analyst, Mobility consultant, Regional manager and Citizen participation officer.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an urban planner?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Real estate valuation expert.
What promotion options do I have as an urban planner?
Promotions include, for example: Head of an urban planning office.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Real estate project developer (€6,992 gross per month), Real estate valuation expert (€6,992 gross per month) and Mobility consultant (€6,917 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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