What Does a Landscape Architect Do?
Whether working on a city park, a college campus, or a hospital garden, architects in this field need to be able to make outdoor space work for people and for water, such as grading a lawn so rain drains away from buildings. In the case of a small courtyard, it might be something as simple as choosing trees whose roots will not crack the paving.
Also known as: Landscape Architectural Coordinator, Landscape Designer
Landscape Architect Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a landscape architect include:
- Meet clients and site users to set goals, budgets and schedules for outdoor projects.
- Analyze sites for soils, slopes, sun, drainage and existing trees before design starts.
- Draw site plans, grading plans and planting plans in AutoCAD with Land F/X.
- Design stormwater features such as rain gardens and bioswales that meet local rules.
- Choose plants suited to the climate, soil and maintenance budget.
- Produce renderings in SketchUp and Photoshop for public meetings and review boards.
- Coordinate with civil engineers, architects and irrigation designers on shared site drawings.
- Write specifications and prepare bid documents for contractors.
- Inspect construction to confirm grades, paving and planting match the plans.
- Update campus or park master plans as buildings and uses change.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a landscape architect, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- State license to practice, required in most states
- AutoCAD with Land F/X, plus SketchUp
- Grading and drainage design
- Plant knowledge for the local climate
- Hand sketching and graphic presentation
- Stormwater and site regulations
- Construction observation
- Public speaking at community meetings
Education and Training
To practice and use the professional title, in most states you will need an accredited degree, supervised experience and a passing result on the CLARB registration exam to qualify for a license. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education. Many practitioners also hold a master's.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $64,170 - $104,090 per year, with a median of $79,870.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Landscape Architects.
According to BLS projections, employment in this occupation will grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. That comes to roughly 1,700 openings a year, a small number for a whole profession. Work here often is tied to public budgets and building activity, but these designers always will be needed as more cities plan for heat and storm runoff.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Landscape architects.