💡 Why it matters: If climate risks keep growing, towns will need plans to stay safe and keep working. This job brings together urban planning, engineering and climate data. Today it is done by a few specialists, but demand is expected to grow.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs for urban and regional planners (the closest US category) are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, as fast as average (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
A job of the future expected 2030s
As floods, heat and sea-level rise worsen, cities like Lagos will need people who plan drainage, green spaces and safer housing around those risks. Planners with climate skills will be needed in many councils and companies.
This is an informed prediction, not a promise. The skills below are useful whichever way the future goes.
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦2M – ₦5M
- Mid-career
- ₦5.5M – ₦14M
- Senior
- ₦14M – ₦32M
≈ ₦458k – ₦1.2M a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK profile: Town planner. Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: Urban and regional planners. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank category: Urban planner. Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Map which neighbourhoods are at risk from flooding or heat
- Design drainage, green spaces and flood barriers with engineers
- Talk to residents about what they need
- Write city or coastal adaptation plans
- Check whether the plans are working
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Planning
- Data analysis
- Communication
- Creativity
- Teamwork
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Master's in climate adaptation or urban resilience
- Work with an NGO or city agency on flood and drainage projects
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Degree apprenticeship in town planning
- Planning assistant role in a council, then part-time study
🇺🇸 United States
- Internship or entry-level job in a city planning office or climate non-profit
- Master's in urban resilience or climate adaptation after a related bachelor's
🇨🇦 Canada
- Planning assistant job with a city or regional government, then complete professional requirements
- Co-op placements in planning or climate offices
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study Geography, Mathematics and Economics in school
- 2Learn how flooding affects your town and what planners do
- 3Earn a degree in urban planning, geography or engineering
- 4Work in a planning office or climate NGO
- 5Specialise in climate risk and lead adaptation projects
⏰ A day in the life
In this future role, you would study a flood map of a coastal town, meet residents to learn where water enters their homes, and sketch plans for new drains and mangrove planting with an engineer.