Landscape architects

SOC Code: 17-1012
Also known as:
AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction), Environmental Designer, Environmental Planner, Exterior Designer, Golf Course Architect
Median Annual Salary
$79,660
+3.5% growth (2024-2034)
2K
Openings/Year
22K
Current Jobs

What Landscape architects Do

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.

💰 Salary

$79,660
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+3.5%
As fast as average

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

2K
Projected average per year

📚 On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency
Expected training period

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

21,800

Projected Employment (2034)

22,600

Related Careers

Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Autodesk Revit Bentley MicroStation ESRI ArcGIS software

📚 Entry-Level Education

Bachelor's degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Landscape architects

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a landscape architects:

Landscape Architecture

1,050 degrees awarded • 64 colleges offer this program

Environmental Design/Architecture

658 degrees awarded • 38 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a Landscape architects

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become landscape architects.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of Georgia Athens, GA 60 A
2 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 50 A
3 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 38 A
4 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 23 A
5 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 19 A
6 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 18 A
7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 8 A
8 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 5 A
9 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 61 B+
10 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 42 B+
11 Clemson University Clemson, SC 41 B+
12 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 40 B+
13 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 37 B+
14 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 32 B+
15 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 30 B+
16 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ 28 B+
17 Florida International University Miami, FL 23 B+
18 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 23 B+
19 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 23 B+
20 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY 18 B+

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do landscape architects make?
The median annual salary for landscape architects is $79,660.
What education do landscape architects need?
Most landscape architects positions require a bachelor's degree. Common degree programs include Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design/Architecture.
Is becoming landscape architects a good career choice?
Landscape architects is projected to see +3.5% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 1,700 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for landscape architects?
Top colleges for aspiring landscape architects include University of Georgia, University of California-Berkeley, Cornell University, University of Southern California, University of Florida. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to landscape architects?
Landscape architects may also be known 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, Landscape Architect, Landscape Architectural Designer, Landscape Design Assistant, Landscape Designer, Landscape Engineer, Landscape Planner, Outdoor Landscape Architect, Park Planner, Planner, Professional Landscape Architect (PLA), Project Landscape Architect, Site Planner. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.