Urban and Regional Planners
Median wage · national
$89,320
Range: $72K – $110K
Employed
44K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: master's degree
STEM
Landscape Architects
Landscape Architects earn $79,870 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $64,170 and $104,090. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Landscape Architects
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a landscape architects: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Landscape Architecture and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $79,870
- Employed Nationally
- 20K
- Openings / Year
- 1,700
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction)
Environmental Designer
Environmental Planner
Exterior Designer
Golf Course Architect
How Much Do Landscape Architects Make?
Most landscape architects take home around $79,870 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $64,170 and $104,090, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$79,870
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$64K–$104K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$64,170
Entry-level
$79,870
Median
$104,090
Experienced
What Do Landscape Architects Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
Where Do Landscape Architects Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Landscape Architects?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.4%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 1,700 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +4.4%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
1,700
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
20K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Landscape Architects professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $79,870 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,310 | $98,380 | +23.2% |
| 2 | Texas | 1,450 | $89,220 | +11.7% |
| 3 | Florida | 1,210 | $79,650 | -0.3% |
| 4 | North Carolina | 1,080 | $83,420 | +4.4% |
| 5 | New York | 920 | $87,360 | +9.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is an Environmental Design program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landscape Architecture | 926 | $66,387 | 70 |
| 2 | Environmental Design | 719 | $57,461 | 61 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Landscape Architects
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | 90 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| 4 | Florida International University Miami, FL | 90 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
| 5 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL | 89 | $9,812 | $57,743 |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 89 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Landscape Architects, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Landscape Architects pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Landscape Architects Pros & Cons
The data on Landscape Architects shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $79,870 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.4% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $104,090 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $79,870 median while building the experience employers require.
Landscape Architects Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Landscape Architects professionals earn?
Around $79,870 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,170 and $104,090. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Landscape Architects a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $79,870 median, with +4.4% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to work as Landscape Architects?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Landscape Architecture are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $79,870 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Landscape Architects?
Employment is projected to change by +4.4% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 1,700 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 20K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Landscape Architects professionals need?
Mainly Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Complex Problem Solving. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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