Transportation Planners
Machines can already do 49% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 77%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Transportation Planners in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 49% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 3% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2027, and 77% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 37,100 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $101,110 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 69% for contact with people.
- Also called: Planner, Program Officer, Transportation Analyst, Transportation Data Programs Manager.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning | 14% | 70% to 95% | |
| Analyze information related to transportation, such as land use policies, environmental impact of projects, or long-range planning needs | 10% | 60% to 90% | |
| Interpret data from traffic modeling software, geographic information systems, or associated databases | 8% | 60% to 90% | |
| Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues | 7% | 25% to 55% | |
| Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities | 5% | 42% to 72% | |
| Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs | 5% | 30% to 60% | |
| Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections | 5% | 35% to 65% | |
| Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues | 5% | 35% to 65% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills transportation planners use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much transportation planners rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver7/10
- Trust and reliability7/10
- Know-how about the organisation8/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others2/10
- Culture and morale5/10
- Initiative beyond the role6/10
- Calm in a crisis5/10
- Bridge between teams8/10
- Reputation and influence4/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $116,580
- Computer and Information Systems Managers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $175,140
- Conservation Scientists57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $73,010
- Hydrologic Technicians69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,790
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Transportation Planners?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2027. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of transportation planners?
Machines can do 49% of the tasks of transportation planners today and 77% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-3099.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Transportation Planners: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/transportation-planners/