Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Golf Course Architect
- Landscape Architect
- Landscape Planner
- Park Planner
Alternate Job Titles
- AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction)
- Environmental Designer
- Environmental Planner
- Exterior Designer
- Golf Course Architect
- Golf Course Designer
- Indoor Landscape Architect
- Land Planner
- Landscape Architect
- Landscape Architect Project Manager
- Landscape Architectural Designer
- Landscape Design Assistant
- Landscape Designer
- Landscape Engineer
- Landscape Planner
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Develop and facilitate community engagement campaigns and workshops to better understand the community's needs.
- Prepare ecological restoration or mitigation design plans to enhance or restore habitats.
- Use drone technology to survey large areas and gather accurate topographical data.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Geography
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Operations Analysis
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Visualization
- Originality
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- ESRI ArcGIS software
Tools & Equipment
- Computer scanners
- Desktop computers
- Digital camcorders
- Digital cameras
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $51,990 |
| Median | $79,660 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $132,250 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 19,580
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $96,690
Environmental Restoration Planners
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $64,280
Civil Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $99,590
Sustainability Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $81,270
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.