How to become a Landscape Architect

Plans, designs and manages natural and built environments by applying aesthetic and scientific principles to address ecological sustainability, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance the quality and health of landscapes.

Main tasks

• Designs, plans, manages and maintains projects for new developments, heritage protection, preservation of natural and cultural landscapes, and the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes
• Prepares landscape documentation including drawings, specifications, schedules and contract documents, and calls for tenders on behalf of clients
• Conducts research and analysis to develop sustainable landscape designs, planning and management practices, methods and development strategies
• Conducts feasibility studies and impact assessments to assess the impact of development upon the ecology, environmental character, cultural values and community health and welfare of landscapes
• Collects and documents data through site analysis, considering indigenous practices, landform, soils, vegetation, hydrology, visual characteristics, and human-made and managed features
• May provide expert advice and advocacy on landscape matters in conflict resolution, judicial courts and commissions

Ways in

• University: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 24 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Landscape Construction (AHC30921); Certificate II in Landscaping (AHC21624); Certificate II in Parks and Gardens (AHC20624); Certificate IV in Landscape Construction Management (AHC42021); Certificate IV in Landscape Design (AHC42421); Certificate IV in Permaculture (AHC42122); Diploma of Landscape Construction Management (AHC52021); Diploma of Landscape Design (AHC50621)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $120,016 a year
• About 30,900 people work in this job group now, and about 36,900 are projected by 2035. (+19.2%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Architect
• Urban Designer
• Cartographer
• Engineering Surveyor
• Geospatial Specialist
• Land Surveyor

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Landscape Architect?

Ways in include: Architecture & Built Environment degrees; Certificate III in Landscape Construction; Certificate II in Landscaping.

How much does a Landscape Architect earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $120,016 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Landscape Architect a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 19% by 2035, from about 30,900 to about 36,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Landscape Architect?

Usually. 81% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Landscape Architect?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04