NOC 2021 · 21202 · TEER 1
NOC 21202: Urban and land use planners
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Urban and land use planners develop plans and recommend policies for managing land use, physical facilities and associated services for urban and rural areas and remote regions. They are employed by all levels of government, land developers, engineering and other consulting companies, or may work as private consultants.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$46.15 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
None
General and program draws only
Express Entry
How NOC 21202 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: not eligibleNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 21202 is in tier 2 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +40 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 70 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
NOC 21202 is not on any of IRCC's 2026 occupation categories. You can still be invited through general, program-specific or French-language draws.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Compile and analyze data on demographic, economic, legal, political, cultural, sociological, physical and other factors affecting land use
- Confer with municipal, provincial and federal authorities, civic leaders, social scientists, lawyers, land developers, the public and special interest groups to formulate and develop land use or community plans
- Prepare and recommend land development concepts and plans for zoning, subdivisions, transportation, public utilities, community facilities, parks, agricultural and other land uses
- Prepare plans for environmental protection, such as wildlife preserves, national and provincial parks, and protection of watersheds
- Present plans to civic, rural and regional authorities and hold public meetings to present plans, proposals or planning studies to the general public and special interest groups
- Review and evaluate proposals for land use and development plans and prepare recommendations
- Process application for land development permits and administer land use plans and zoning by-laws
- Formulate long-range objectives and policies relative to future land use and the protection of the environment
- Supervise and coordinate work of urban planning technicians and technologists.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- community and urban planner
- environmental planner
- land use planner
- municipal planner
- park planner
- planner
- recreation planner
- regional planner
- urban planner
All 29 job titles in NOC 21202
- city planner
- city planner - land use
- community and urban planner
- community planner
- community recreation planner
- environmental planner
- heritage planner - land use
- heritage work planner
- land use planner
- land use specialist
- long-range planner - land use
- mass transit services analyst
- municipal park planner
- municipal planner
- neighbourhood planner
- park planner
- planner
- planning analyst - land use
- recreation planner
- regional planner
- senior planner - land use
- site planner
- town planner
- transportation planner
- transportation route planning analyst
- urban and regional planner
- urban planner
- urban renovation planner
- zoning officer - land use
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, geography, architecture, engineering or a related discipline is required.
- A master's degree in one of these disciplines may be required.
- Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners is usually required.
- Urban and land use planners are regulated in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and membership in a provincial planning institute may be required in other provinces.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
Additional information
- Progression to management positions in planning is possible with experience.
This occupation may be regulated in some provinces. You may need a licence or certificate from the provincial regulator before you can work in it in Canada, even if you hold permanent residence.
Wages
Wages for NOC 21202 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $28.21 | $46.15 | $65.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.26 | $48.86 | $73.68 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $28.54 | $42.19 | $63.49 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| New Brunswick | $28.42 | $40.89 | $63.58 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $30.00 | $43.00 | $62.64 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $27.56 | $47.38 | $76.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $26.15 | $44.71 | $60.44 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.50 | $40.10 | $53.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $24.04 | $52.50 | $65.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $35.29 | $46.04 | $59.34 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Nunavut | $35.40 | $56.94 | $85.38 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank's 3-year employment outlook for this occupation, by province and territory.
ModerateQuebec
The employment outlook will be Moderate for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Quebec:
Approximately 3,150 people work in this occupation.
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 28%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 13%
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 485-486, 487, 493): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations
74% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 60% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 40% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 20% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 32% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 32% compared to 11% for all occupations
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
Public administration, mainly at the municipal and regional levels of government
Within the private sector, architectural, engineering and related services firms are key employers
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
High levels of residential construction planned due to population growth in many areas of the province
Significant public sector infrastructure investments, such as for the redevelopment or construction of transit facilities
and hospitals
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
The urban and land use planners profession is not regulated, but only members of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) can use the title ‘Registered Professional Planner’ (RPP).
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Ontario:
Approximately 5,900 people work in this occupation.
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 28%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 22%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 93% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 7% compared to 19% for all occupations
81% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
9% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 53% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 47% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 13% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 40% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 38% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Saskatchewan:
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 28%
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 26%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 11%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 11%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
81% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
10% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 64% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 36% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 8% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 13% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 19% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 40% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 19% compared to 7% for all occupations
LimitedNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Limited for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Nova Scotia:
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 34%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 12%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 11%
Construction (NAICS 23): 9%
Plastics and rubber products and chemicals manufacturing (NAICS 325-326): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 91% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 9% compared to 18% for all occupations
74% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
8% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 55% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 45% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 10% compared to 27% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 14% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 15% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 32% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 26% compared to 10% for all occupations
LimitedManitoba
The employment outlook will be Limited for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Manitoba:
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 17%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 17%
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 16%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 9%
Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
79% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
13% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 64% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 36% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 11% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 33% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 37% compared to 8% for all occupations
LimitedAlberta
The employment outlook will be Limited for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in Alberta:
Approximately 2,250 people work in this occupation.
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 31%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 14%
Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 12%
Construction (NAICS 23): 7%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
79% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
8% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 59% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 41% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 12% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 33% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 28% compared to 9% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for urban and land use planners (NOC 21202) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Some physical duties of this occupation could be performed by automation technologies, which may enable workers to do their jobs more efficiently.
The adoption of new technologies such as robotics (including autonomous vehicles, drones, sensors) integrated with digital innovations are expected to bolster industries including construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and trade.
Here are some key facts about urban and land use planners in British Columbia:
Approximately 2,900 people work in this occupation.
Urban and land use planners mainly work in the following sectors:
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 39%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 12%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 5%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
79% of urban and land use planners work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
11% of urban and land use planners are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 51% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 49% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 8% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 31% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 47% compared to 12% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 21202 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
Same occupation group
Architects, urban planners and land surveyors
Questions
NOC 21202: common questions
What is the NOC code for urban and land use planners?
What TEER category is NOC 21202?
Is NOC 21202 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21202 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21202 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21202 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 2Natural and applied sciences and related occupationsBroad Category
- 21Professional occupations in natural and applied sciencesMajor Group
- 212Professional occupations in applied sciences (except engineering)Sub-major Group
- 2120Architects, urban planners and land surveyorsMinor Group
- 21202Urban and land use planners
Enquiry
Is NOC 21202 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
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