Career as Urban Planner
Urban Planning is the part of societal development associated with the meticulous planning of a city's layout. Urban Planning or designing is the complete makeover of the city and solving the issues related to infrastructure, transportation and communication. It is the technical and political process of transforming the city for the welfare of its citizens and improving their standard of living. It is an up and coming sector and has opened several job opportunities for prospective candidates. Urban Planning is an emerging field that has opened several posts in the private and government sectors. The employment rate for Urban Planners is projected to increase by 13 % by 2026. Overall job opportunities depend upon the economic condition and budget allotted by the government. Whether it is the municipalities, metro and railway corporations, transport or communication network, urban planners are highly in demand these days.
- About Urban Planner :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
Indian population is increasing at an alarming rate wherein every person hopes for a better life along with an advanced standard of living. Urbanization is the most immediate impact of it. Transforming the piece of land, improving the navigation and transportation facilities are the core works performed by the Urban Planners. They participate in the process of planning and executing the city's layout. When the daily work routine is taken, Urban Planners perform both official and fieldwork. Sometimes, fieldwork is quite hectic as they need to inspect the land wherein infrastructural projects are established thoroughly. However, Urban Planners are engaging high-end tools and advanced software to get the layout that reduces the work stress. Urban development is completely a societal development, including correction and designing of the communication and transportation network. The planners have to deal with the daily challenges for the successful transformation of the contemporary cities.
The demand for Urban Planners is quite high these days, especially in international consulting companies, private and government sector, real estate, and housing groups. The government keenly looks for such candidates who possess a professional degree in urban planning. With some work experience, candidates can directly participate in the decision-making aspects of a developmental project organised by the government. There are better scopes to get a lucrative job as an Urban Planner abroad. Candidates can work as an urban designer, transport planner, town planner, housing office, local government officer, conservation officer and alike. As the population is increasing, development is happening at a fast rate. This has consequently increased the demand for urban planners.
The average salary of Urban Planners is Rs 50000 per month. It depends upon the position and experience held by the candidates. The annual salary of research analysts is Rs 4,68,439, and Geographic Information Systems is Rs 486,961. For a mid-career Urban Planner who holds 6-9 years of experience obtains an average annual salary of Rs 7,88,044 while senior Urban Planners with more than ten years of experience obtain Rs 9,00,000. Renowned recruiters of Urban Planner include Titan Consultancy, Egis India, Bangalore, Tractebel Engineering Pvt. Ltd, Metro Transport Corporation, Real Estate Developer Firms and alike.
Roles and Salaries offered
|
Jobs |
Salaries Offered (in Rs) |
|
Surveyor |
62,580 |
|
Architect |
79,380 |
|
Civil Engineer |
86,640 |
|
Urban Planner |
73,050 |
|
Senior Urban Planner |
114,170 |
Future Growth Prospects and how to get there faster
The position and job opportunities in Urban Planning typically depend upon the prevailing economic conditions and the government budget. However, in the past few years, one can see significant growth in the demand of Urban Planners. Risk prone projects have a higher growth chance as very few candidates apply for it. If the strategic layout of the urban town is flawless and you keenly work on them, the individualistic growth rate is higher. Hence, it entirely depends upon you how you strategically plan and execute in the critical scenarios.
Pros and Cons of an Urban Planner
Pros:
- Many people are not aware of this field. This is the reason why one can easily get better colleges and appealing placement options.
- The candidates get the opportunity to work in major projects like transport, public spaces, culture, finance and many more.
- This is the best career for you if you are highly passionate about improving the quality of living.
Cons:
- The market options are limited if you are only looking under the head of an urban planner.
- Political intervention often restricts the quality of urban output.
- This is a cash-stricken department, where funding is a major issue.
How do I get there?
It is mandatory for the students to have Mathematics in Class 12th if they want to pursue a career in Urban Planning. For undergraduate courses, they can opt BA in Archeology, B.Arch, B. Planning, B.Tech in Civil Engineering. Once UG course is completed, one can apply for M.Arch, M.Tech in civil engineering, M. Planning and MA. Short term certification and diploma courses are also available to pursue urban planning. Here is a list of common entrance tests conducted to seek admission for such courses.
- JEE Main
- National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)
- Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam (UPSEE)
- JUEE or Jadavpur University Entrance Exam etc.
- GATE for Master’s Degree
Various institutes conduct their entrance exams and interviews to analyse whether the candidates are eligible for the particular courses or not.
How much does it cost?
Fees charged by the government institutes are particularly less than the private colleges. For completing the bachelor's degree, the cost range is Rs 7-30 Lakh depending upon the type of college, amenities availed and the infrastructural setup. To complete the Master's degree, the average costing is Rs 2.38 Lakh.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become an Urban Planner?
There are several institutes and colleges that offer exclusive course options. Being an emerging post, it is easy to secure seats in renowned colleges. Take a look at the top institutes wherein you can apply for Urban Planning.
|
Rank |
Name of the college, city |
Programme Fees (in Rs) |
|
1. |
IIT, Kharagpur |
B.Tech- 32 Lakh (For a full Year) |
|
2. |
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi |
B.Planning- 4.11 Lakh M.Planning- 2.38 Lakh |
|
3. |
CEPT, Ahmedabad |
B.Arch- 32 Lakh |
|
4. |
Malviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur |
B.Tech- 3.74 Lakh for a full year |
|
5. |
Anna University, Chennai |
B.Arch- 4.35 Lakh M.Arch- 1.20 Lakh |
|
6. |
Guwahati College of Architecture, Guwahati |
B.Arch- 6.25 Lakh |
|
7. |
Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Ansal University, Gurgaon |
B.Planning- 22 Lakh |
Books and other Study Materials
- Theory and concept of urban planning by GK Hiraskar
- The Tropical climate and house design by Otto Konnisberger
- Building construction by B.C. Punmia
- Theory of structures & strength of materials by R.S. Khurmi
- History of Architecture by GK Hiraskar
What if the career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Students who are quite passionate about societal development should undoubtedly choose the career of Urban Planning. However, in case the stress and the workload pressure is intolerable, you can apply in top colleges as a Lecturer. Moreover, you can even open your real estate business or work as a researcher. Options are limitless if you have subtle knowledge of the field.
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |