Landscape architects salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Mean (average) | $88,780 | $42.68 |
| 90th percentile | $130,190 | $62.59 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Landscape architects pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $101,220 | $60,370 | $113,430 | 230 | 0.87 |
| Arizona | $75,310 | $62,760 | $107,590 | 390 | 0.96 |
| Arkansas | $60,840 | $48,310 | $93,620 | 100 | 0.63 |
| California | $98,380 | $60,600 | $187,270 | 2,310 | 1 |
| Colorado | $78,290 | $58,440 | $123,320 | 690 | 1.9 |
| Connecticut | $76,680 | $36,860 | $118,720 | 270 | 1.26 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.54 | ||
| District of Columbia | $85,100 | $60,790 | $194,450 | 170 | 1.95 |
| Florida | $79,650 | $57,740 | $125,160 | 1,210 | 0.96 |
| Georgia | $73,570 | $55,690 | $131,450 | 410 | 0.67 |
| Idaho | $73,950 | $42,050 | $167,100 | 160 | 1.44 |
| Illinois | $67,460 | $54,770 | $105,340 | 810 | 1.05 |
| Indiana | $64,980 | $44,830 | $102,880 | 460 | 1.15 |
| Iowa | $87,270 | $57,280 | $118,690 | 80 | 0.4 |
| Kansas | $73,760 | $36,160 | $123,430 | 150 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $68,460 | $40,560 | $107,700 | 140 | 0.56 |
| Louisiana | Data unavailable | 110 | 0.47 | ||
| Maine | $82,440 | $62,420 | $106,340 | 110 | 1.32 |
| Maryland | $92,880 | $59,010 | $136,450 | 870 | 2.49 |
| Massachusetts | $88,000 | $67,320 | $113,760 | 500 | 1.1 |
| Michigan | $77,670 | $55,120 | $125,520 | 650 | 1.17 |
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 400 | 1.06 | ||
| Missouri | $76,670 | $54,090 | $104,830 | 110 | 0.29 |
| Montana | $81,330 | $60,200 | $132,010 | 80 | 1.22 |
| Nebraska | $62,170 | $44,230 | $94,520 | 190 | 1.45 |
| Nevada | $85,140 | $60,760 | $116,460 | 180 | 0.94 |
| New Hampshire | $71,500 | $52,660 | $140,930 | 50 | 0.54 |
| New Jersey | $95,020 | $62,630 | $137,570 | 360 | 0.66 |
| New Mexico | $71,990 | $51,980 | $96,720 | 50 | 0.45 |
| New York | $87,360 | $62,240 | $126,240 | 920 | 0.75 |
| North Carolina | $83,420 | $57,030 | $120,530 | 1,080 | 1.73 |
| Ohio | $63,790 | $51,430 | $122,000 | 480 | 0.68 |
| Oklahoma | $64,370 | $35,690 | $76,850 | 170 | 0.78 |
| Oregon | $73,600 | $59,440 | $119,510 | 350 | 1.41 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,130 | $59,030 | $147,770 | 910 | 1.19 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,960 | $36,400 | $88,390 | 30 | 0.3 |
| Rhode Island | $85,420 | $53,490 | $112,320 | 90 | 1.41 |
| South Dakota | $70,620 | $64,690 | $114,910 | 80 | 1.42 |
| Tennessee | $95,250 | $56,160 | $150,900 | 260 | 0.62 |
| Texas | $89,220 | $62,610 | $122,940 | 1,450 | 0.82 |
| Utah | $94,430 | $65,950 | $108,260 | 90 | 0.39 |
| Vermont | $69,740 | $67,720 | $91,560 | ||
| Virginia | $81,380 | $47,690 | $147,740 | 570 | 1.11 |
| Washington | $76,720 | $58,620 | $127,740 | 760 | 1.7 |
| Wisconsin | $69,520 | $46,470 | $104,930 | 450 | 1.21 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for landscape architects
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 16.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for landscape architects
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental Design/Architecture CIP 04.0401
- Landscape Architecture CIP 04.0601
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (in demand)
- Adobe InDesign (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (in demand)
- Autodesk Revit (in demand)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Trimble SketchUp Pro (in demand)
- ESRI ArcView (in demand)
- Lumion (in demand)
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D (in demand)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Operations Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management.
Common job titles: AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction), Golf Course Architect, Land Planner, Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Landscape Planner, Park Planner, Planner, Professional Landscape Architect (PLA), Project Landscape Architect.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do landscape architects make?
The national median annual wage for landscape architects was $79,870 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $54,770 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $130,190. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do landscape architects need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is landscape architects a growing career?
BLS projects employment of landscape architects to change +4.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay landscape architects the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alabama ($101,220), California ($98,380), Tennessee ($95,250). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.