Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Landscape architects work in a field that blends creativity, technical knowledge, and problem solving. Nationally, there are about 22,000 people employed in this occupation, with a projected employment growth rate of 3.5%. This growth, together with 2,000 annual openings, points to a steady flow of opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. The national median salary of $79,660 indicates solid earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering significantly higher pay. Success in this career relies on a mix of creativity and innovation, project management, critical and analytical thinking, and strong skills in science, mathematics, and technology. Communication abilities—such as speaking, listening, writing, and reading—also play a central role, along with leadership and decision making. For individuals who want to combine creative work with structured planning and analysis, and who are comfortable developing both technical and interpersonal strengths, landscape architecture offers a well-defined professional pathway with varied geographic options.
The national median annual salary for landscape architects is $79,660, but pay can vary notably by location. Several states exceed the national median, including California at $98,380, Massachusetts at $88,000, and New York at $87,360. Among metro areas, salaries can be even higher. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, shows a median salary of $119,910, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, is close behind at $119,730. Other strong-paying metros include Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, at $95,760 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, at $91,520. These figures suggest that relocating to certain states or major metro areas can substantially increase earning potential. When considering offers, it can be useful to compare local medians with the national median and to weigh compensation against personal preferences for region and city size.
Landscape architects have a national employment base of 22,000, with projected employment growth of 3.5%. This projected growth, combined with 2,000 annual openings, indicates ongoing demand that can support both new graduates and career changers entering the field. The 3.5% growth rate appears consistently across highlighted states and metros in the data, suggesting a relatively uniform outlook in the locations profiled. Annual openings likely reflect a combination of new positions and replacement needs as workers change jobs or retire. For job seekers, this means opportunities may arise regularly rather than only in occasional hiring cycles. While total national employment is modest compared with some larger professions, the steady growth projection can appeal to individuals looking for a specialized field with defined job numbers and a consistent flow of positions over time.
Location plays an important role in the landscape architecture career profile. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $98,380, employment of 2,310, and the highest opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show strong opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78) with median salaries of $88,000 and $87,360, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer somewhat lower median salaries—$78,290 and $76,720—but still maintain solid opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, differences become even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, combines the highest median salary of $119,910 with the top opportunity score of 77.42, though employment there is 70. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, pairs high pay with 610 employed and a strong opportunity score of 68.75. Metros like Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer competitive salaries and sizable employment, providing multiple regional options to consider.
The typical education requirement for landscape architects is a bachelor’s degree. Preparing for this field involves building a broad skill set that reflects both creative and analytical demands. Key strengths include creativity and innovation, which support conceptual thinking and design-oriented work. Project management abilities help organize tasks, timelines, and resources. Critical and analytical thinking, science, and mathematics contribute to making informed, data-based decisions. Skills in computers and information technology are important for working with digital tools and information. Strong speaking and listening, along with writing and reading, support clear communication with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders. Leadership, problem solving, and decision making round out the profile, helping professionals guide projects and address challenges. Students and career changers aiming for landscape architecture can use this skill list to evaluate their readiness and target areas for development during or after their bachelor’s-level education.
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