Landscape Architect Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Landscape Architects

The median landscape architect salary in the United States is $79,870 per year ($38.40/hour). Salaries range from $54,770 at the entry level to $130,190+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 19,600 landscape architect jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asLandscape Architect
Median Salary
$79,870
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.40
per hour
Employment
19,600
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$54,770
25th percentile
$64,170
Median
$79,870
75th percentile
$104,090
90th percentile
$130,190

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3.5%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

1,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Training Needed

Internship/residency

Landscape Architect Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for landscape architects.

Landscape architects design outdoor spaces β€” parks, plazas, streetscapes, residential landscapes, stormwater systems, and campus master plans. The path is a BLA/MLA + 2-4 years of experience + LARE licensure. Mid-career licensed LAs hit $75-120k; principals at signature firms reach $150-250k. Ecological + resilience specialties are the growth edges.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Design + master planning
Concept + schematic through construction docs for sites, parks, campuses, and public space. Systems thinking for hydrology + circulation.
AutoCAD + Civil 3D + GIS
AutoCAD/Civil 3D for grading + drainage + hardscape. ArcGIS/QGIS for site analysis + spatial planning.
Rhino + SketchUp + Adobe
3D modeling + rendering + graphic communication. Grasshopper for parametric grading + planting patterns.
Grading + drainage + stormwater
Site engineering: cut/fill balance + drainage + bioretention + LID/GI. Critical for permitting.
Planting design + horticulture
Native/adapted plant palettes + succession planning + maintenance. Regional flora + soil + hardiness.
Construction documents + specs
Grading + planting + hardscape + lighting + irrigation. CSI specs + integration with civil/architect consultants.
Public engagement + client management
Charrettes + public meetings + stakeholder coordination. Communicate design intent to non-designers.

How to Become a Landscape Architect

  1. 1
    Earn accredited degree
    5-year BLA or 2-3 year MLA from LAAB-accredited program. MLA can accept non-design undergrads.
  2. 2
    Gain 2-4 years supervised experience
    Work under a licensed LA. States vary β€” some require 2, others 4 years post-degree.
  3. 3
    Pass LARE
    4 sections ($495 each = $1,980). Most take 12-18 months to pass all sections while working.
  4. 4
    Get state licensed
    Apply for state license after LARE + experience + degree. CLARB certificate ($725) enables reciprocity across 46 states.
  5. 5
    Specialize + earn credentials
    SITES AP + LEED AP + PLA in multiple states. Specialties: parks + green infrastructure + resilience + healthcare landscapes.

Career Progression

Landscape Designer / Intern
0-3 yrs$52-72k
  • β€’CAD/Civil 3D drafting
  • β€’Renderings + boards
  • β€’Plant lookups + spec research
  • β€’Log LARE experience hours
Next: Project Landscape Architect after LARE + license.
Project Landscape Architect
3-8 yrs$72-105k
  • β€’Own CDs on projects
  • β€’Coordinate consultants
  • β€’Present to clients + public
  • β€’CA on construction
Next: Senior/Associate at 8-12 years.
Senior LA / Associate
8-15 yrs$105-155k + bonus
  • β€’Lead multiple projects
  • β€’BD + client relationships
  • β€’Mentor staff
  • β€’Sign/stamp drawings
Next: Principal or start own practice.
Principal / Partner
15+ yrs$155-280k + profit share
  • β€’Firm strategy + BD
  • β€’Signature projects
  • β€’P&L + hiring
  • β€’Public/professional leadership
Next: Managing Principal / firm owner.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk through a project from concept to CDs.technical
Chronological: site analysis + programming + concept + SD/DD + CDs + permitting + CA. Show ecological + design choices tied to client goals + site.
Q2. How do you approach grading + drainage on a site?technical
Site analysis + existing contours + drainage patterns + cut/fill balance + LID/GI + comply with local stormwater codes. Design for maintenance.
Q3. Tell me about a public engagement process.behavioral
Specific project: charrettes + surveys + design iteration + how feedback shaped design. Show empathy + facilitation skills.
Q4. How do you select plants for a project?technical
Site conditions (soil + hydrology + light + zone) + native/adapted + maintenance + client aesthetic + succession over 5-20 years.
Q5. Where do you see your career?closer
Toward Associate + specialization in [green infrastructure/resilience/parks] + own significant public projects.

Resume Template β€” Landscape Designer (0-3 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Landscape Designer (0-3 yrs)
  • β–ΈProduced CDs for $3.5M park master plan β€” 45 sheets β€” coordinating with civil + arborist + lighting consultants.
  • β–ΈPassed 3 of 4 LARE sections while logging 3,200+ supervised hours across residential + parks + campus work.
  • β–ΈDesigned native plant palette + bioswale for $2M streetscape β€” 180 species + reduced runoff by 40%.
  • β–ΈRendered concept boards + video walkthroughs in SketchUp + Enscape that won $8M city commission.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—No portfolio β€” hiring is portfolio + graphic communication driven.
  • βœ—Weak Civil 3D + grading skills.
  • βœ—Cant identify local plants or read soil reports.
  • βœ—No LARE progress after 3-4 years working.
  • βœ—Cant explain stormwater/LID strategies.
  • βœ—Weak public presentation skills.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Licensed vs unlicensed = $8-20k premium.
  • βœ“SITES AP + LEED AP = $3-8k.
  • βœ“Multi-state licensure = $5-15k when firms need it.
  • βœ“Public sector project experience (parks + streetscapes) = premium at civic firms.
  • βœ“Green infrastructure + resilience specialty = growing market premium.
  • βœ“Metro: NYC/SF/Boston/DC pay 15-30% premium.
  • βœ“Sign-on: $3-10k common for licensed + PA-level.

Landscape Architect Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired landscape architects. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Landscape Architect Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 15 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews β€” real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

β€œThe interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.”

β€” Anonymous, Financial Analyst

β€œCopy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.”

β€” Anonymous, Software Developer

β€œThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.”

β€” Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Landscape Architect Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$61K
$101Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Alabama
$101K
+27%
California
$98K
+23%
Tennessee
$95K
+19%
New Jersey
$95K
+19%
Utah
$94K
+18%
Maryland
$93K
+16%
Texas
$89K
+12%
Massachusetts
$88K
+10%
New York
$87K
+9%
Iowa
$87K
+9%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Alabama$101,220+26.7%
California$98,380+23.2%
Tennessee$95,250+19.3%
New Jersey$95,020+19.0%
Utah$94,430+18.2%
Maryland$92,880+16.3%
Texas$89,220+11.7%
Massachusetts$88,000+10.2%
New York$87,360+9.4%
Iowa$87,270+9.3%
1–10 of 41

Landscape Architect Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$119,910+50.1%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$119,730+49.9%
Birmingham, AL$109,010+36.5%
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$106,030+32.8%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$103,670+29.8%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$101,640+27.3%
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$99,470+24.5%
Charleston-North Charleston, SC$99,330+24.4%
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$99,180+24.2%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$97,280+21.8%
1–10 of 94
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A landscape architect earning $79,870/year would need 746 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 801 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how landscape architect salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Landscape Architect salary trend (2011–2024) β†’