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Architecture & Engineering Firms
Gensler, HOK, AECOM
Landscape Architects
Landscape architects design outdoor spaces that need to look good and work well, from parks and campuses to plazas, housing developments, and private gardens. The job is distinctive because it mixes design, plant choices, grading, and water management, so the finished space has to be attractive, buildable, and able to handle real site conditions. The main tradeoff is balancing creative ideas with budget, drainage, regulations, and environmental limits.
Also known as Landscape ArchitectRegistered Landscape ArchitectProject Landscape ArchitectLandscape DesignerLandscape Architecture Designer
Median Salary
$79,660
Mean $88,000
U.S. Workforce
~20K
1.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
21.8K to 22.6K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Landscape Architects sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~20K workers, with a median annual pay of $79,660 and roughly 1.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 21.8 K in 2024 to 22.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture or a closely related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Landscape Design Assistant and can progress toward Principal / Studio Director. High-value skills usually include AutoCAD, Civil 3D & Landscape Drafting, Site Analysis, Grading & Drainage Design, and SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Review sites, maps, and drainage conditions to figure out what the land can support before a design moves forward.
- Draw outdoor layouts that fit the building, the terrain, and the overall look a client wants.
- Meet with clients, engineers, architects, and contractors to settle design details and solve project problems.
- Choose plants, materials, and planting layouts, including drought-tolerant and native species when water use matters.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Review sites, maps, and drainage conditions to figure out what the land can support before a design moves forward.
02 Draw outdoor layouts that fit the building, the terrain, and the overall look a client wants.
03 Meet with clients, engineers, architects, and contractors to settle design details and solve project problems.
04 Choose plants, materials, and planting layouts, including drought-tolerant and native species when water use matters.
05 Add water-saving features such as rainwater capture systems or reuse systems into the design.
06 Estimate project costs, prepare proposals or presentations, and help coordinate contractor bids to win new work.
Industries That Hire
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Public Parks & Government
National Park Service, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Chicago Park District
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Real Estate Development
Hines, Related Companies, Brookfield Properties
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Construction & Land Development
DPR Construction, Turner Construction, Lennar
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Hospitality & Resorts
Walt Disney Imagineering, Marriott International, MGM Resorts
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You get to see your ideas become real places, from campus courtyards to parks and streetscapes.
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The work combines design and environmental problem-solving, so you are not just making things look nice.
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Water-saving and native-plant design lets you work on projects that respond to drought and climate concerns.
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Pay is solid for a design job, with a median annual wage of $79,660 and a mean of $88,000.
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The path is fairly direct: most workers enter with a bachelor’s degree, and no prior work experience is required.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly.
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There are only about 1.7 thousand annual openings, which means competition for good jobs can be real.
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The work is tied to development and construction spending, so project flow can slow when the market cools.
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Remote work is limited because you often need to visit sites, meet clients in person, and check field conditions.
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Higher pay often depends on moving into management or ownership, so the career ceiling can feel narrow if you want to stay hands-on with design.
Career Progression
Landscape Design Assistant
0-2 years
$45K-$58K
Supports senior staff with drawings, plant lists, revisions, and site research while learning how projects move from concept to construction.
Landscape Designer
2-5 years
$58K-$74K
Handles smaller projects more independently, prepares plans and visuals, and coordinates with engineers, architects, and contractors.
Landscape Architect THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$75K-$99K
Leads design work for full projects, meets with clients, solves site and drainage issues, and turns ideas into buildable plans.
Senior Landscape Architect / Project Manager
10-15 years
$100K-$125K
Manages larger, more complex projects, supervises junior staff, and balances design quality with budget, schedule, and permitting needs.
Principal / Studio Director
15+ years
$125K-$160K
Brings in new business, sets design direction, and oversees client relationships, staffing, and the firm’s most visible projects.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture or a closely related field
The standard entry route, held by 85% of workers in this role.
Post-baccalaureate certificate
An alternative route, held by 10% of workers, usually for people who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Master's degree
A smaller path, held by 5% of workers, often used for deeper specialization or to strengthen a portfolio.
Internship and licensure-focused training
A practical alternative for building the supervised experience needed for professional licensure and real project work.
Key Skills
Technical
AutoCAD, Civil 3D & Landscape Drafting 92%
Site Analysis, Grading & Drainage Design 88%
SketchUp, Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop 84%
ArcGIS, QGIS & Mapping Tools 82%
Native Plant Selection & Planting Plans 80%
Project Estimating, Specs & Bid Coordination 76%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingCoordination Job Outlook and Trends
+3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 21.8K to 22.6 K over the next decade, representing 3.5% growth. Around 1.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.