Architects, Surveyors, and Cartographers

How to become a Landscape Architect

Official title: Landscape Architects

Also called: AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction), Golf Course Architect, Land Planner, Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Landscape Planner, Park Planner, Planner, Professional Landscape Architect (PLA), Project Landscape Architect

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.

Main tasks

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.
Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.

How to become one

All states require landscape architects to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary by state but usually include at least a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from an accredited school, internship experience, and passing a qualifying exam.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 32 universities in the US
College: Architecture & Built Environment degrees, Offered by 15 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 50 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $79,870 a year The middle half earn $64,170 to $104,090.
About 23,500 people work in this job now, and about 24,500 are projected by 2035. (+4.4%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Landscape Architect?

How much does a Landscape Architect earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $79,870 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $64,170 to $104,090.

Is a Landscape Architect a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 23,500 to about 24,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Landscape Architect?

Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Landscape Architect?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.