Transit Planners: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of transit planners about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for transit planners to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of transit planners expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for transit planners.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Transit Planners?

Do transit planners need a degree? What kind of experience do transit planners typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for transit planners to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Transit Planners

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of transit planners. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 25% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 14% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Transit Planners

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for transit planners. In 36% of job postings for Transit Planners, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 20% of job postings for transit planners.

What Kind of Degree Do Transit Planners Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for transit planners, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 21 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective transit planners, and in 2021 a total of 52,188 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective transit planners.

Top Degree Programs for Transit Planners

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Transit Planners

What Skills Do Transit Planners Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by transit planners to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for transit planners, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Transit Planners
Based on 16,545 job postings

Based on 16,545 job postings related to transit planners, economics was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 31% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for data analysis, project management, transportation planning, statistics and data collection were also highly sought.

As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for transit planners, followed by communications, writing, planning, management and presentations.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about transit planners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for transit planners.

What do transit planners do?
How much do transit planners make?

All Occupations

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

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