Landscape Architects: Career Overview
Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
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What Do Landscape Architects Take On?
Typical responsibilities of landscape architects cover:
- Confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.
- Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
- Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.
- Prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.
- Integrate existing land features or landscaping into designs.
- Collaborate with architects or related professionals on whole building design to maximize the aesthetic features of structures or surrounding land and to improve energy efficiency.
- Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
- Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful landscape architects draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction)
- Environmental Designer
- Environmental Planner
- Exterior Designer
- Golf Course Architect
- Golf Course Designer
- Indoor Landscape Architect
- Land Planner
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 185,767 landscape architects working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Landscape Architects Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $88,491 |
| Hourly median | $42.54 |
| 10th percentile | $64,445 |
| 25th percentile | $76,468 |
| 75th percentile | $100,515 |
| 90th percentile | $112,538 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Landscape Architects Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $100,110 |
| California | $98,880 |
| New Jersey | $92,600 |
| North Dakota | $91,250 |
| New York | $89,940 |
| Maryland | $86,390 |
| Connecticut | $85,370 |
| Massachusetts | $84,950 |
| Arkansas | $84,260 |
| Iowa | $83,480 |
| Utah | $82,180 |
| Louisiana | $81,840 |
| Virginia | $81,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,110 |
| Texas | $81,110 |
| Nevada | $80,710 |
| Florida | $80,360 |
| Illinois | $78,350 |
| Minnesota | $78,310 |
| Georgia | $77,640 |
| Kentucky | $77,160 |
| West Virginia | $76,790 |
| Idaho | $76,630 |
| Alabama | $76,590 |
| Oregon | $76,380 |
| Colorado | $76,110 |
| North Carolina | $75,760 |
| Tennessee | $74,990 |
| South Carolina | $74,470 |
| Washington | $71,690 |
| Maine | $71,670 |
| Mississippi | $71,390 |
| South Dakota | $69,680 |
| Michigan | $69,340 |
| New Hampshire | $69,190 |
| Arizona | $67,060 |
| Montana | $66,280 |
| Vermont | $65,790 |
| Kansas | $65,200 |
| New Mexico | $64,040 |
| Missouri | $63,040 |
| Indiana | $62,130 |
| Ohio | $60,980 |
| Nebraska | $60,320 |
| Wisconsin | $59,500 |
| Oklahoma | $55,370 |
| Rhode Island | $51,990 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for landscape architects vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $91,464 | 22.4% | 1.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | $85,066 | 11.5% | 1.31 |
| New England | $82,711 | 5.0% | 1.12 |
| Southeast | $78,397 | 25.9% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $76,174 | 6.5% | 1.86 |
| Southwest | $75,883 | 9.5% | 0.72 |
| Plains States | $69,635 | 5.5% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $67,079 | 13.6% | 1.00 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $118,090 | 720 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $108,790 | 120 |
| State College, PA | PA | $106,080 | 30 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $105,050 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $102,150 | 190 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $100,800 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | PA | $100,780 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $98,530 | 60 |
Which Industries Hire Landscape Architects
The bulk of landscape architects are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11,790 | $81,220 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4,940 | $66,160 |
| Construction | 380 | $66,930 |
| Retail Trade | 220 | $64,270 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 100 | $89,990 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 90 | $71,080 |
| Educational Services | 80 | $87,310 |
| Wholesale Trade | 40 | $68,270 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of landscape architects is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Landscape Architects
Entry-level landscape architects positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Construction Managers (Primary-Long)
- Water Resource Specialists (Supplemental)
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Supplemental)
- Sustainability Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (Primary-Short)
- Agricultural Engineers (Supplemental)
- Civil Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring landscape architects commonly pursue programs in:
Architecture and Related Services
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-1012.00 (Landscape Architects).
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