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Landscape Architects
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.
Other titles employers use
AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction) · Golf Course Architect · Land Planner · Landscape Architect · Landscape Designer · Landscape Planner · Park Planner · Planner
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and creative work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Geography
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Originality
- Visualization
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.5 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 85%
- A master's degree 15%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Geographic information system
- Document management software
- Desktop publishing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 4,100
- Job openings each year
- 340
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,100 | 340 | 10.8% |
| Florida | 1,990 | 170 | 14.4% |
| New York | 1,570 | 10 | 7.5% |
| North Carolina | 1,410 | 120 | 11.0% |
| Washington | 1,260 | 120 | 16.7% |
| Colorado | 1,130 | 100 | 14.1% |
| Maryland | 950 | 80 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 950 | 70 | 2.2% |
| Virginia | 930 | 70 | −1.1% |
| Connecticut | 880 | 70 | 8.6% |
| Montana | 790 | 60 | 1.3% |
| Arizona | 770 | 60 | 11.6% |
| Georgia | 690 | 60 | 7.8% |
| Illinois | 630 | 50 | — |
| New Jersey | 600 | 50 | — |
| Ohio | 560 | 40 | −1.8% |
| Michigan | 550 | 40 | −1.8% |
| Minnesota | 480 | 40 | 2.1% |
| Indiana | 440 | 30 | 2.3% |
| Tennessee | 410 | 30 | 7.9% |
| Oregon | 380 | 30 | 15.2% |
| Wisconsin | 360 | 30 | 12.5% |
| South Carolina | 330 | 30 | 10.0% |
| Kansas | 290 | 20 | — |
| Iowa | 280 | 20 | 3.7% |
| Utah | 260 | 20 | 30.0% |
| Missouri | 220 | 20 | — |
| Alabama | 190 | 20 | — |
| Kentucky | 190 | 10 | — |
| South Dakota | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Nebraska | 140 | 10 | — |
| Idaho | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Maine | 130 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Massachusetts | 110 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 90 | 10 | — |
| Nevada | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| New Mexico | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Vermont | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Oklahoma | 70 | 10 | — |
| New Hampshire | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| North Dakota | 40 | 0 | — |
| Alaska | 30 | 0 | — |
| Mississippi | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 129
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 80
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University at Buffalo
- Degrees each year
- 54
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Degrees each year
- 48
- Admit rate
- 30%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 53%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 44
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Auburn University
- Degrees each year
- 41
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
University of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 41
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000