Landscape Architects
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.
Also called: AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction) · Golf Course Architect · Land Planner · Landscape Architect · Landscape Designer · Landscape Planner
Median pay (national)
$79,660
$51,990–$132,250 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
19,580
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.5%
~1,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for landscape architects shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $132,250 versus $51,990 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $79,660 leaves roughly 66% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.5% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $100,110, +26% vs the national median), while Rhode Island sits lowest at $51,990 — a 93% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Collaborate with estimators to cost projects, create project plans, or coordinate bids from landscaping contractors.
- Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Autodesk Revit
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcView
- Lumion
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
Knowledge areas
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Geography
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security