Landscape architects
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Landscape architects in the United States earn a median salary of $79,870 per year — about $38 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 22K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
Landscape architecture is a predominantly digital knowledge-based occupation where core tasks like CADD modeling, site analysis, and cost estimation are highly susceptible to AI automation and enhancement. While the role requires physical site visits and interpersonal client management, the generative design capabilities of AI can significantly accelerate the creative and technical drafting phases, potentially reducing the total human hours required per project.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALBEST VALUE | $109,010 | Below avg (91.6) | $118,949 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $119,910 | Above avg (110.4) | $108,592 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $103,670 | Average (98.6) | $105,111 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $119,730 | Above avg (115.6) | $103,561 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $99,470 | Below avg (96.3) | $103,251 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,030 | Above avg (106.7) | $99,400 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $99,330 | Average (101.0) | $98,384 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $99,180 | Above avg (103.2) | $96,123 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $101,640 | Above avg (106.4) | $95,489 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $97,280 | Above avg (103.1) | $94,364 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $94,510 | Average (100.9) | $93,697 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $91,140 | Average (98.1) | $92,937 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $84,610 | Below avg (92.2) | $91,789 |
| Wilmington, NC | $87,440 | Below avg (96.4) | $90,685 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $90,330 | Average (100.2) | $90,136 |