Landscape Architects: Career Profile
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.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Landscape Architects Perform?
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.
What Landscape Architects Need to Know
Top landscape architects draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Landscape Architects Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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
There are roughly 185,767 landscape architects working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.6% over the projection horizon.
Landscape Architects Pay
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay 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 |
Top Industries Employing Landscape Architects
The bulk of landscape architects work in 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 |
Below are examples of industries where landscape architects 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 work environment for 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
Typical landscape architects positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future landscape architects often complete programs in:
Architecture and Related Services
2 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on 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).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.