If you work in town planning, you already know that salary conversations are constant. As specialist recruiters in the planning sector, we’re regularly asked about planning salaries in Australia, market benchmarks, and how compensation compares across states and experience levels. That’s exactly why we are launching the National Planning Salary Survey Australia 2026 — a sector-specific planning salary survey designed to provide reliable data on planning salaries in Australia. The Planning Salary Survey Australia will give employers clear visibility into current remuneration trends, employment conditions, and market expectations across the profession.
While we provide informed guidance based on live placements and ongoing conversations with employers and candidates, anecdotal insights can only go so far. In a market shaped by skills shortages, regional demand shifts, and increasing project complexity, robust and nationally consistent salary data is essential.
Why a Planning Salary Survey Matters in 2026
The planning profession continues to evolve. Increased development activity, infrastructure investment, housing targets, and regulatory reform are reshaping demand for planners across local government, consultancies, and private development.
Yet many employers still rely on:
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Outdated salary benchmarks
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Informal peer comparisons
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Candidate expectations without structured market data
The National Planning Salary Survey Australia 2026 is designed to address this gap by capturing accurate, role-specific remuneration data across:
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Graduate Planners
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Strategic Planners
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Statutory Planners
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Senior and Principal Planners
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Planning Managers and Team Leaders
The goal is simple: provide clarity in a market where salary expectations are rising and workforce competition is tightening.
What This Survey Will Deliver
Building on insights gathered in our 2024/25 survey, the 2026 edition will be nationally focused and tailored exclusively to planning roles. The survey will capture:
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Base salary and total package data
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Variations across states and regional markets
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Differences between public and private sector remuneration
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Broader employment conditions and benefits
This will allow employers to benchmark confidently and ensure their remuneration strategies remain competitive and sustainable.
Timeline and Distribution
The National Planning Salary Survey Australia 2026 is now live.
Results will be shared with all participating organisations approximately four weeks after distribution:
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Two weeks allocated for data collection
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Two weeks for analysis and reporting
Participating employers will receive a structured report outlining sector-wide trends, salary ranges, and market insights.
Why Participate?
In a tightening labour market, guesswork is risky.
Clear salary benchmarking helps employers:
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Attract high-quality planners
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Improve retention
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Set realistic recruitment budgets
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Align remuneration with current market conditions
For planners, it provides transparency and confidence in career planning decisions.
If you operate within the planning sector and want accurate, current salary intelligence, participation in the Planning Salary Survey Australia will ensure your organisation is benchmarking against real market data — not assumptions.
Ahead of this year’s launch, you can explore the key insights from our 2024/25 Planning Salary Survey Australia here: Planned Resources – Planning Salary Survey 2024-25.
By: Russell Locke, Director, Planned Resources
Russell Locke is the Founder and Director of Planned Resources, bringing over 25 years’ recruitment experience across planning, design, engineering and the public sector.
Russell Locke – Director
Connect with Russell Locke on Linkedin
Contact: +61 407 111 364 , russell.locke@plannedresources.com.au