Find a Job You Really Want In
Top 10 States with the Highest Landscape Designer Salaries in 2026
In today’s competitive job market, salary remains a key consideration for many professionals, making it crucial to understand how much landscape designers earn in various states across the U.S.
Numerous factors influence individual earnings, including location, experience, and specialization. However, average salary data by state provides a useful benchmark for aspiring and current landscape designers. While your specific earnings may vary based on local conditions, these averages can offer valuable insight into the potential salary range.
To analyze landscape designer salaries across the country, we examined the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides detailed insights into average pay segmented by state and seniority level.
We also accounted for the cost of living in each state, as it significantly impacts the value of your salary. For example, a salary in North Carolina will afford you a different lifestyle compared to a salary in California.
After adjusting for cost of living, the state offering the highest salary for landscape designers is Tennessee. Below is a quick snapshot of the top ten states for landscape designer salaries:
Now, let’s delve deeper into how we calculated these figures and present the complete ranking of all states.
How We Determined Landscape Designer Pay by State
To compile our data, we sourced the average annual salary for landscape designers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their “Occupational Employment Statistics.”
To ensure an equitable comparison of salaries across states, we factored in the cost of living in each state. We created an index by dividing the average wage for a state by the state’s cost of living index. For example, California has a cost of living index of 135.9, and with an average wage of $77,540, our index value would be:
$77,540 * (100 / 135.9) = $57,056
We then ranked each state based on this adjusted salary index, allowing us to identify the states with the highest average salaries for landscape designers.
Here’s the full ranking of landscape designer salaries by state:
Detailed List of Landscape Designer Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $90,000 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $80,681 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | $75,358 |
| 4 | Georgia | $75,043 |
| 5 | Alabama | $74,353 |
| 6 | Colorado | $73,236 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $72,334 |
| 8 | Texas | $72,171 |
| 9 | Florida | $71,444 |
| 10 | Missouri | $70,707 |
| 11 | Virginia | $69,880 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $68,806 |
| 13 | Washington | $68,127 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $67,001 |
| 15 | Idaho | $66,872 |
| 16 | Michigan | $66,337 |
| 17 | Ohio | $66,183 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $65,545 |
| 19 | Delaware | $65,118 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $64,970 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $64,684 |
| 22 | Montana | $63,928 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $63,077 |
| 24 | Illinois | $62,135 |
| 25 | Utah | $61,731 |
| 26 | Kansas | $61,512 |
| 27 | Arizona | $59,744 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $57,776 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $57,738 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $57,338 |
| 31 | Vermont | $57,126 |
| 32 | California | $57,056 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $56,016 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $55,843 |
| 35 | Iowa | $55,714 |
| 36 | Maine | $54,729 |
| 37 | New York | $54,572 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $53,696 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $52,592 |
| 40 | Oregon | $52,223 |
| 41 | Maryland | $51,195 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $47,995 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $47,342 |
| 44 | Indiana | $0 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | $0 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $0 |
In conclusion, understanding landscape designer salaries by state can help you make strategic career decisions. Whether you are just starting or looking to advance in your career, this data illuminates the financial landscape of your profession. Be sure to consider both salary and cost of living when evaluating job opportunities, as they are crucial for making informed choices.

