Transportation Planners

Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Active Learning

Key knowledge

Transportation
English Language
Mathematics
Geography
Law and Government
Computers and Electronics
Administration and Management
Engineering and Technology

What the work involves

Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications.
Direct urban traffic counting programs.
Develop or test new methods or models of transportation analysis.
Define or update information such as urban boundaries or classification of roadways.
Analyze information from traffic counting programs.
Review development plans for transportation system effects, infrastructure requirements, or compliance with applicable transportation regulations.
Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.
Produce environmental documents, such as environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (55% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (35%)
On-the-job training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (25%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Transportation Planners is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Projection education uses SOC 19-3099 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Low	Lower on contact with others than 78% of occupations compared	40% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time”
Dealing with the public	High	Higher on dealing with the public than 65% of occupations compared	45% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important”
Teamwork	High	Higher on teamwork than 71% of occupations compared	55% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	Low	Lower on freedom to make decisions than 73% of occupations compared	55% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Very low	Lower on time pressure than 92% of occupations compared	80% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Conflict situations	Moderate	Lower on conflict situations than 56% of occupations compared	50% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 79% of occupations compared	68% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Very low	Lower on consequence of error than 95% of occupations compared	58% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: very low
Conflict situations: moderate
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
Consequence of error: very low

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions