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Landscape architect: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$79,870median pay per year, or $38.40 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $54,770lowest 10% earn less
  2. $64,17025th percentile
  3. $79,870median
  4. $104,09075th percentile
  5. $130,190top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A landscape architect earned a median of $79,870 a year in May 2025, well above the median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.4%[3]
Openings per year
1,700[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do landscape architects make?

The median landscape architect pay was $79,870 a year, or $38.40 an hour[1]. The median is the midpoint: half of workers are paid above it and half below[1]. The mean (average) was $88,780 a year, or $42.68 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Pay varies a lot across the range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $54,770 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $64,170[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $104,090 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $130,190[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $26.33 and the 90th was $62.59[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][8] $54,770 $26.33
25th percentile[4][8] $64,170 $30.85
Median[1] $79,870 $38.40
75th percentile[4][8] $104,090 $50.04
90th percentile[4][8] $130,190 $62.59

These figures come from BLS wage surveys of about 19,600 salaried jobs[10]. They leave out self-employed people, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. In 2025, 16.7% of landscape architects were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 40 states and DC with published data, Alabama had the highest median at $101,220, followed by California at $98,380 and Tennessee at $95,250[13].

California also has the most jobs, with 2,310[14]. Texas (1,450), Florida (1,210), North Carolina (1,080) and New York (920) come next[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $119,730[15]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom followed at $106,030, then Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands at $103,670[15]. Two metros tied for the most jobs at 850 each: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (median $66,830) and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (median $89,350)[16].

Show median pay in 40 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alabama[13]$101,220230
California$98,3802,310
Tennessee$95,250260
New Jersey$95,020360
Utah$94,43090
Maryland$92,880870
Texas$89,2201,450
Massachusetts$88,000500
New York$87,360920
Iowa$87,27080
Rhode Island$85,42090
Nevada$85,140180
District of Columbia$85,100170
North Carolina$83,4201,080
Maine$82,440110
Virginia$81,380570
Montana$81,33080
Florida$79,6501,210
Colorado$78,290690
Michigan$77,670650
Pennsylvania$77,130910
Washington$76,720760
Connecticut$76,680270
Missouri$76,670110
Arizona$75,310390
Idaho$73,950160
Kansas$73,760150
Oregon$73,600350
Georgia$73,570410
New Mexico$71,99050
New Hampshire$71,50050
South Dakota$70,62080
Vermont$69,740n/a
Wisconsin$69,520450
Kentucky$68,460140
Illinois$67,460810
Indiana$64,980460
Oklahoma$64,370170
Ohio$63,790480
Nebraska$62,170190
Arkansas$60,840100

How to become a landscape architect

The typical entry path needs a bachelor's degree. No related work experience is needed, and the usual training is an internship[6]. The steps look like this:

All states require a license[21]. Candidates typically need a degree from an accredited school plus supervised experience, though standards vary by state[22]. Many states offer other routes for people without a landscape architecture degree, and these usually need more work experience[22]. Some states add their own exam on local issues, for example California's earthquakes or Florida's hurricanes[23]. A voluntary certification may make it easier to get licensed in another state[24].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 85% said a bachelor's degree was the education level required[25].

What landscape architects do

Landscape architects plan and design land areas such as parks, airports, highways, hospitals, schools and housing sites[26]. Typical tasks include:

The work calls for analytical skills, since designers must understand how a design affects the land around it[28].

Where they work

Much of the work happens in offices, where landscape architects make plans and designs, build models, estimate costs and meet clients. The rest of the time is spent at jobsites[29]. Architectural, engineering and related services firms employed 50% of landscape architects in 2025[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of landscape architects to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,500 to 24,500 jobs, a gain of 1,000[3]. That is a little faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[31]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

About 1,700 openings a year are projected on average[5]. These openings count jobs left by retirements and job changes as well as newly created ones[5]. Each year, 2.4% of workers leave the labor force and 4.4% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and growth is slightly ahead of the average[1][2][3][31]. The entry cost is real, though. It means a bachelor's degree, which usually takes 4 to 5 years, then supervised experience and a license exam[17][21][22]. The field is also small, with about 19,600 salaried jobs[10]. Pay by state varies, so local figures matter more than the national median[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a landscape architect make an hour?
The median was $38.40 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $42.68[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $26.33 and the 90th was $62.59[8].
What degree do you need to be a landscape architect?
The typical entry path needs a bachelor's degree[6]. Landscape architecture or a related subject, at the bachelor's or master's level, is typical[17].
How long does it take to become a landscape architect?
Bachelor's programs usually take 4 to 5 years, and a master's for people with another degree typically takes 3 years of full-time study[17][18]. Experience rules for the license are set by each state[19].
Do landscape architects need a license?
Yes. All states require a license, and candidates must pass a licensing exam[21].
What is the highest paying state for landscape architects?
Alabama had the highest median at $101,220 in May 2025, followed by California at $98,380[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Landscape Architects in the US was $79,870 per year and $38.40 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Landscape Architects is projected to grow 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,500 to 24,500 jobs (a change of +1,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Landscape Architects: 10th percentile $54,770, 25th percentile $64,170, 75th percentile $104,090, 90th percentile $130,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Landscape Architects are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Landscape Architects: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Landscape Architects was $88,780 per year and $42.68 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Landscape Architects: 10th percentile $26.33, 25th percentile $30.85, 75th percentile $50.04, 90th percentile $62.59. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 19,600 people were employed as Landscape Architects in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 16.7% of Landscape Architects were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Landscape Architects in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Landscape Architects jobs: California 2,310; Texas 1,450; Florida 1,210; North Carolina 1,080; New York 920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Landscape Architects (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $119,730; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $106,030; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $103,670; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $101,640; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $99,470; Charleston-North Charleston, SC $99,330; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $95,760; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $92,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Landscape Architects jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 850 (median $66,830); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 850 (median $89,350); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 630 (median $103,670); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 610 (median $119,730); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 600 (median $76,730); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 570 (median $95,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 17-1012.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 85%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 10%, Master's Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Landscape Architects. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Landscape Architects. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of landscape architects in 2025: Architectural, engineering, and related services 50%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Landscape Architects: 2.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.