Where you work makes a real difference to what a planning job pays, but not always in the way people expect. London isn't automatically top, and some shire councils now pay more than inner-city boroughs for the same title. This guide looks at the salaries stated in live adverts on PLANNINGJOBS.COM on 23 October 2026, region by region.
A word of caution first. These figures come from 31 live adverts that state a salary, spread across nine regions. Some regions have only one or two. Treat this as a snapshot of what employers are offering right now, not a salary survey. We update the figures every month in our market report.
The same job title, different regions
The clearest comparison is between adverts for the same level. Principal-level council roles were the most common salaried adverts on the day:
| Role | Region | Advertised salary |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Planning Policy Officer | South East (West Sussex) | £47,665 to £51,928 |
| Principal Planning Officer | East of England (Hertfordshire) | £48,111 to £54,778 |
| Principal Planning Policy Officer | East Midlands | £51,224 to £54,605 |
| Principal Planning Policy Officer | London | £52,194 to £57,402 |
| Principal CIL and S106 Infrastructure Officer | London | £52,194 to £58,461 |
| Principal Planning Officer (Majors) | South East (Buckinghamshire) | £59,505 to £62,559 |
The best-paid Principal advert wasn't in London: a Buckinghamshire majors role topped the list. The London boroughs paid more than most of the shire districts, but only by a few thousand pounds.
At Planning Officer level the spread was wider. A West Sussex Planning Officer role offered £33,119 to £39,481, an Essex development management role £40,300 to £44,066, and a Scottish council Planning Officer role £48,249 to £52,184. Job titles don't mean the same thing everywhere. In Scotland, "Planning Officer" often covers work that English councils would call Senior.
Region by region
| Region | Adverts with a salary | Lowest to highest advertised | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 9 | £30,023 to £75,000 | Planning Officer £33,119 to £39,481; DM Team Leader £67,493 to £70,954 |
| East of England | 6 | £30,000 to £74,999 | Planning Officer (DM) £40,300 to £44,066; Planning Development Manager £67,593 to £73,794 |
| North West | 5 | £36,581 to £65,920 | Planning Enforcement Officer £36,581 to £41,177; Head of Planning Policy £55,224 to £56,293 |
| Scotland | 3 | £45,000 to £68,529 | Planning Officer £48,249 to £52,184; DM Service Manager £62,908 to £68,529 |
| London | 2 | £52,194 to £58,461 | Two Principal-level council roles |
| East Midlands | 2 | £35,000 to £54,605 | Senior Planner (consultancy) £35,000 to £45,000 |
| South West | 2 | £40,000 to £75,000 | Consultancy roles from Senior to Associate |
| West Midlands | 1 | £46,579 to £49,817 | Senior Planning Officer (Policy) |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 1 | £36,363 to £39,152 | Senior Planning Policy Officer |
The "lowest to highest" column mixes levels, from part-time monitoring roles to managers, so it shows the spread of jobs on offer rather than what one role pays. The broad ranges in the South West and South East reflect consultancy adverts covering Senior to Associate roles in a single £40,000 to £75,000 band.
These are advertised ranges, mostly council grades: most consultancy and developer adverts say "Competitive". For typical pay by level and type of employer, see our salary guide:
| Level | Consultanciesancy £k | Developers and housebuildersDeveloper £k | Councils and public bodiesCouncil £k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate / Assistant Planner | £26k–£32k26–32 | £29k–£35k29–35 | £28k–£34k28–34 |
| Planner / Planning Officer | £32k–£40k32–40 | £35k–£44k35–44 | £35k–£42k35–42 |
| Senior Planner | £40k–£50k40–50 | £44k–£55k44–55 | £41k–£49k41–49 |
| Principal Planner | £50k–£60k50–60 | £55k–£66k55–66 | £47k–£56k47–56 |
| Team Leader | £52k–£62k52–62 | £57k–£68k57–68 | £51k–£60k51–60 |
| Planning Manager / Head of Planning | £52k–£64k52–64 | £57k–£70k57–70 | £55k–£66k55–66 |
| Associate | £60k–£75k60–75 | £66k–£83k66–83 | £58k–£70k58–70 |
| Associate Director | £72k–£95k72–95 | £79k–£105k79–105 | £65k–£85k65–85 |
| Director | £85k–£130k85–130 | £94k–£143k94–143 | £75k–£110k75–110 |
A guide only: actual pay depends on the employer, the role, where it is and the person. London roles typically pay around 8% more. Client-side roles often carry a car allowance and bonus on top, and can go well above these bands for the right person. Built from the planning jobs advertised on PLANNINGJOBS.COM and what employers tell us they pay. Advertised figures on their own run lower, because most consultancy adverts say "Competitive" and the salaries that are published are mostly council grades.
Why regional pay varies
- Local labour markets. Councils near London and in growth areas compete with consultancies and with each other for the same planners.
- Market supplements. Councils that struggle to fill posts add supplements on top of the grade. One live South East Senior Planning Officer advert adds 10%.
- Council size and workload. Larger councils handling big strategic sites may pay more at Principal and Team Leader level.
- London weighting. London boroughs have their own pay arrangements, including London weighting.
- Different pay frameworks. Scottish councils use their own grading, which is why titles and figures don't line up neatly with England.
Using these figures
- Compare like with like. Check the duties, not just the title, especially between Scotland, Wales and England.
- Look beyond the base salary. Market supplements, car allowances, flexitime and the council pension can add up to more than the headline difference.
- Factor in travel and hybrid working. A higher-paid role an hour further away may not be worth it if the office days are fixed.
- Ask consultancies for the range. Most private practice adverts say "competitive". Asking early saves time on both sides.
For pay by level rather than region, see our guide to planning salaries in the UK and the October 2026 market report.
Reading a council salary range
Most council adverts give a range rather than a single figure because the post sits on a grade with several pay points. New starters usually join near the bottom unless they can show experience that justifies a higher point, and then move up a point each year until they reach the top of the grade. So a role advertised at £48,111 to £54,778 might start at around £48,000 and rise over a few years. If you're already earning near the top of a range, it's worth asking whether you can start higher up the grade.
Frequently asked questions
Which region pays planners the most?
On 23 October 2026 the highest single-role offers were in the South East and East of England, with London close behind at Principal level. With so few adverts per region, the answer can change month to month.
Do London planning jobs pay much more?
Somewhat. The two London Principal adverts paid around £52,000 to £58,000, a little above most shire districts but below the best-paid South East role.
Why are some regions missing?
There were no live adverts with a stated salary in the North East, Wales or Northern Ireland on the day. They'll appear in future months as adverts go live.
Why is the Scottish Planning Officer salary so high?
Scottish councils grade roles differently, and their Planning Officer posts often expect the experience an English council would hire at Senior level.
Browse jobs near you on our planning jobs by area page.