Can you make 6 figures as a landscape architect?

Getty

Landscape architecture is a growing field of employment that combines art and science in the designing, planning and management of land, traditionally outdoor areas like such as parks, residential developments, campuses, gardens, cemeteries, commercial centers, resorts, transportation corridors, corporate and institutional centers and waterfront developments, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects website.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the current mean annual salary for landscape architects in the U.S. is $73,160. And the occupation is expected to grow employment by 6% through 2026. But the national average income for landscape architects is not consistent across all U.S. states. In fact, in the lowest-paying state for landscape architects, they earn an average salary that’s over $20,000 less than the national average.

So, if you want to earn the most money in this field, read on for a full breakdown of where landscape architects’ incomes are the lowest, and where their incomes are the highest.

10 States Where Landscape Architects Earn the Most Money

Landscape architects in the District of Columbia earn the most money on average, with a mean annual wage of $100,690. Excluding D.C., below is a list of the top-10 states in order of the highest average incomes for landscape architects. Five states — Alaska, Delaware, Michigan, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — do not have landscape architect wages available for 2018 from the BLS.

Rank State Average Annual Salary 2018 1 California $89,570 2 Connecticut $87,660 3 Virginia $85,880 4 New York $82,510 5 Wyoming $79,650 6 North Carolina $78,610 7 Missouri $76,740 8 New Jersey $76,460 9 Minnesota $76,210 10 Massachusetts $75,360

California tops the list where landscape architects earn the most money. Considering the excellent climate and variable landscape, with beaches only a few hours drive from snowcapped mountains; large population; significant number of universities, which not only educate, but often employ landscape architecture services for their campus; it makes sense that California ranks No. 1, especially when you take into account the state’s already high median household income. Notable landscape architecture firm Hood Design Studio is headquartered in Oakland, while Studio-MLA is headquartered in Los Angeles.

The U.S. South is represented by No. 3 Virginia and No. 6 North Carolina. The Northeast has No. 4 New York, No. 8 New Jersey and No. 10 Massachusetts. The Midwest states of Missouri and Minnesota took No. 7 and No. 9, respectively. And interestingly, Wyoming comes in as the fifth-highest paying state for landscape architects.

More: How Much Architects Earn in Every State

10 States Where Landscape Architects Earn the Least Money

The states that pay landscape architects the least are a mix of states in the U.S. South Midwest and West. The Census-designated South region includes Louisiana, Oklahoma, West Virginia and South Carolina. The Midwest region includes Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa. New Mexico and Oregon represent the West region.

Rank State Average Annual Salary 2018 45 Louisiana $49,270 44 Oklahoma $52,790 43 New Mexico $53,910 42 West Virginia $55,370 41 Indiana $56,830 40 Wisconsin $58,380 39 Nebraska $58,450 38 Iowa $58,600 37 South Carolina $58,970 36 Oregon $59,200

Many of the southern states on this list already have low median household incomes compared to the rest of the U.S., so low pay for landscape architects isn’t too surprising. But seeing Oregon rank among the worst-paying states is surprising. Landscape architects only earn $3,000 more than Oregon’s median household income of $56,119. Meanwhile, in a state like Tennessee, landscape architects earn an average income of $70,560 compared to a median household income of $48,708.

How Much Landscape Architects Earn in All 50 States

Here’s a look at average landscape architect salaries by state. Each state’s overall ranking is included, and D.C. is included as well.

Rank State Average Annual Salary 27 Alabama $66,030 * Alaska n/a 22 Arizona $68,520 29 Arkansas $65,200 1 California $89,570 18 Colorado $70,640 2 Connecticut $87,660 * Delaware n/a * District of Columbia $100,690 25 Florida $66,830 24 Georgia $68,250 11 Hawaii $75,300 32 Idaho $61,430 16 Illinois $71,760 41 Indiana $56,830 38 Iowa $58,600 28 Kansas $65,340 34 Kentucky $60,710 45 Louisiana $49,270 12 Maine $75,240 15 Maryland $73,880 10 Massachusetts $75,360 * Michigan n/a 9 Minnesota $76,210 13 Mississippi $75,120 7 Missouri $76,740 35 Montana $60,220 39 Nebraska $58,450 14 Nevada $74,430 * New Hampshire n/a 8 New Jersey $76,460 43 New Mexico $53,910 4 New York $82,510 6 North Carolina $78,610 31 North Dakota $62,830 30 Ohio $63,970 44 Oklahoma $52,790 36 Oregon $59,200 26 Pennsylvania $66,470 * Rhode Island n/a 37 South Carolina $58,970 21 South Dakota $69,280 19 Tennessee $70,560 20 Texas $69,630 17 Utah $70,990 33 Vermont $60,910 3 Virginia $85,880 23 Washington $68,400 42 West Virginia $55,370 40 Wisconsin $58,380 5 Wyoming $79,650

Up Next: Here’s the Highest-Paid Job in Your State

This week's edition of our curated jobs roundup from Archinect Jobs highlights 12 employers offering senior positions with a starting salary of over $100K per year.

Our selection was based on jobs that have publicly disclosed the annual salary range in their job listings on Archinect Jobs. Make sure to take a look around the job board for other good matches — there are currently lots of opportunities with the stated salary range reaching into the six-digit figures.

Additionally, check out Archinect's coverage on salary transparency and our Architecture Salary Poll for more insight on what you should expect to make based on your position and location.

Foster + Partners seeks an Architect in San Francisco, CA
Salary range: $109,000 – $115,000 annually
"If you are a qualified Architect, licensed in the state of California, have a background working at an international practice on high-profile, large-scale projects, and have strong Revit (Arch) skills, we want to hear from you. This is an excellent opportunity to work on some of the most exciting projects in the world, underpinned by our unique approach to innovation and cutting-edge research."

The firm is also hiring for an Architect in Los Angeles.

ICÔNE by Foster + Partners.

Starbucks Coffee Company seeks a Design Manager in Seattle, WA
Salary range: $120,000 – $140,000 annually
"This is a fast-paced, design-forward role, executing over 25 new store builds per year. Gain international experience in our largest growth market and build a resume with Fortune's #1 brand in Food & Beverage. Lead the development and implementation of the vision for Starbucks' brand, creative objectives, and design processes to enhance the Starbucks experience for the consumer, while innovating best-in-class, meaningful design."

Gensler seeks:

Project Architect - Sciences - Senior in San Francisco, CA
Salary range: $138,000 – $160,000 annually
"Gensler San Francisco is seeking a Senior Architect - Sciences to join our team of design thinkers and doers who specialize in helping to tell stories and create experiences in the context of science and technical spaces."

Architect - Senior in San Francisco, CA
Salary range: $118,000 – $140,000 annually
"Gensler’s architecture practice is looking for a Senior Architect who will push the parameters of architectural design, and help guide project teams for leading academic and civic institutions."

Architect - Hospitality in Oakland, CA
Salary range: $118,000 – $140,000 annually
"Our hospitality design team brings global expertise in planning, architecture, interior design, and branding to projects across every scale to deliver award-winning designs that drive extraordinary guest experiences, brand loyalty, and lasting value. "

Project Architect - Architecture - Senior in San Jose, CA
Salary range: $138,000 – $160,000 annually
"As a Gensler Architect, you will collaborate with a team of architects and designers to develop design solutions as well as coordinate the design through the construction administration phase of a project."

Project Architect - Aviation - Senior in Vancouver, BC
Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000 annually
"Gensler's Vancouver office is seeking an Architect with a passion for Aviation to join our Lifestyle team. As a Gensler Architect, your job is to combine creativity and technical knowledge with business skills and understanding to produce functionally beautiful spaces for clients."

Gensler Oakland Office. Image courtesy Gensler

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) seeks:

Senior Project Manager in New York, NY
Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of eight years of experience, proficiency with Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Google Workspace, and Adobe Creative Suite, a general understanding of sustainable strategies and principles, a strong expertise in the Middle East market, a demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams, and exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

Sr. Business Development & Marketing Manager in New York, NY
Salary range: $130,000 – $175,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of ten years of professional services business development experience (A/E/C industry preferred), with a minimum of two years in a management role, as well as experience with Salesforce or other CRM software.

The firm is also hiring an Enclosure Design Specialist.

KWID, Kelly Wearstler Interior Design seeks a Senior Project Architect in Los Angeles, CA
Salary range: $110,000 – $150,000 annually
"Kelly Wearstler is looking for a very talented Senior Architect with experience in and private residential projects, luxury hospitality, and restaurants to join our team.!" Qualifications include eight-plus years of relevant experience and refined presentation skills with experience using AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office.

Flad Architects seeks:

Science Planner in New York, NY
Salary range: $120,000 – $160,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of seven years of related experience, Revit proficiency, and a broad base of experience with a focus in science and technology facilities for academic, bio-pharmaceutical, government, or process planning.

Project Architect in San Diego, CA
Salary range: $115,000 – $145,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of ten years of architectural with at least five years of recent Project Architect experience on relevant, large-scale projects leading multi-disciplinary teams, Revit proficiency, and excellent presentation, written, verbal, and graphics communication skills.

The firm has a vast array of job openings across the country. Click here for more info.

Moynihan Connector by SOM and Field Operations. Photo: Andrew Frasz.

Ratcliff Architects Inc. seeks:

Senior Project Architect - Academic in Emeryville, CA
Salary range: $105,000 – $125,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of seven years of professional experience, proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and Microsoft 365, construction administration experience, and must work well in a collaborative/integrated environment.

Senior Project Manager - Academic in Emeryville, CA
Salary range: $105,000 – $125,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of seven years of professional experience, proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and Microsoft 365, and must work well in a collaborative/integrated environment.

Project Manager - Healthcare in Emeryville, CA
Salary range: $100,000 – $125,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of seven years of professional experience with production and/or construction administration of architectural projects, and at least three of those years with healthcare projects, proficiency with Revit, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and Microsoft 365 applications, and must work well in a collaborative/integrated environment.

The firm is also hiring a Project Architect - Healthcare and a Medical Planner.

A+I (Architecture Plus Information) seeks an Accomplished Project Manager/Project Architect in New York, NY
Salary range: $105,000 – $120,000 annually
"As a key member of an A+I project team, you will provide team leadership and management. You will work closely with the team’s architects, interior designers, strategists, and brand and graphic designers. You will connect teams to office leadership, clients, and consultants."

The firm is also hiring an Accomplished Interior Designer / FFE Expert.

GGA+ seeks a Senior Project Manager in Pasadena, CA
Salary range: $125,000 – $150,000 annually
Qualifications include a minimum of 15 years of related experience, a deep expertise in planning, design and implementation of Educational (K-14) projects, experience managing large, complex projects, and effective communication skills.

The firm is also hiring a Project Architect and a Project Captain.

Irish Hunger Memorial by 1100 Architect, landscape architect Gail Wittwer-Laird, and artist Brian Tolle.

1100 Architect seeks a Senior Project Architect in New York, NY
Salary range: $110,000 – $150,000 annually
"The Senior Project Architect will function as a member of the leadership team and be responsible for leading the technical development of architectural systems and details for multiple projects and will work closely with project design teams to maintain the highest level of quality control."

The firm is also hiring an Intermediate Architect/Designer and a Junior Architectural Designer.

di Domenico + Partners, LLP seeks a Senior-Level Architect in Long Island City, NY
Salary range: $120,000 – $150,000 annually
"Seeking Senior-Level Architect with 12+ years of technical experience in all phases of design including Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents and Construction Administration." Qualifications include proficiency with AutoCAD 2020 or later with BIM experience, MS Office, Bluebeam, and Adobe Creative Suite, the ability to work independently or multi-task, and knowledge of building codes.

The firm is also hiring a Mid-Level Architect.

WHY Architecture seeks a Senior Project Manager in Culver City, CA
Salary range: $110,000 – $135,000 annually
"We are looking for a Senior Project Manager who is passionate about design and has the skills to manage complex, high design, multi stakeholder institutional projects. This is a full-time hybrid Project Architect role located in Los Angeles, California with the option for some remote work [...]"

The firm is also hiring a Project Architect in Austin.

If you don't already, follow Archinect's Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Linkedin OR our dedicated Archinect Jobs Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram feeds.