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Landscape Architect

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All About Landscape Architects

Example of Landscape Architect Job 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.

Daily Life Of a Landscape Architect

  • Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
  • Design and integrate rainwater harvesting or gray and reclaimed water systems to conserve water into building or land designs.
  • Manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control.
  • Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
  • Confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.
  • Develop planting plans to help clients garden productively or to achieve particular aesthetic effects.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Landscape Architect?

These are the skills Landscape Architects say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Types of Landscape Architect Jobs

  • Director of Landscape Architecture and Planning
  • Designer
  • Outdoor Landscape Architect
  • Landscape Designer
  • Sustainable Landscape Architect

Landscape Architect Employment Estimates

There were about 24,700 jobs for Landscape Architect in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,600 new jobs for Landscape Architect by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,900 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Landscape Architect are Alaska, Idaho, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Nevada, Montana, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Landscape Architect

The salary for Landscape Architects ranges between about $40,710 and $113,340 a year.

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Landscape Architects who work in District of Columbia, California, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

How much do Landscape Architects make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $66,030
Arizona $68,520
Arkansas $65,200
California $89,570
Colorado $70,640
Connecticut $87,660
District of Columbia $100,690
Florida $66,830
Georgia $68,250
Hawaii $75,300
Idaho $61,430
Illinois $71,760
Indiana $56,830
Iowa $58,600
Kansas $65,340
Kentucky $60,710
Louisiana $49,270
Maine $75,240
Maryland $73,880
Massachusetts $75,360
Minnesota $76,210
Mississippi $75,120
Missouri $76,740
Montana $60,220
Nebraska $58,450
Nevada $74,430
New Jersey $76,460
New Mexico $53,910
New York $82,510
North Carolina $78,610
North Dakota $62,830
Ohio $63,970
Oklahoma $52,790
Oregon $59,200
Pennsylvania $66,470
South Carolina $58,970
South Dakota $69,280
Tennessee $70,560
Texas $69,630
Utah $70,990
Vermont $60,910
Virginia $85,880
Washington $68,400
West Virginia $55,370
Wisconsin $58,380
Wyoming $79,650

What Tools do Landscape Architects Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Landscape Architects:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Project
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • Bentley Microstation
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite

How to Become a Landscape Architect

Individuals working as a Landscape Architect have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Landscape Architect?

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Where Landscape Architects Are Employed

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Landscape Architect might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: La Citta Vita via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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