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Civil engineer vs landscape architect

The differences between civil engineers and landscape architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a civil engineer, becoming a landscape architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a civil engineer has an average salary of $70,950, which is higher than the $62,379 average annual salary of a landscape architect.

The top three skills for a civil engineer include civil 3d, engineering design and cost estimates. The most important skills for a landscape architect are cost estimates, sketchup, and site analysis.

Civil engineer vs landscape architect overview

Civil EngineerLandscape Architect
Yearly salary$70,950$62,379
Hourly rate$34.11$29.99
Growth rate7%-
Number of jobs26,80377,084
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4144
Years of experience64

What does a civil engineer do?

A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.

What does a landscape architect do?

A landscape architect specializes in developing external areas into functional natural environments. Their responsibilities typically revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, drawing designs and creating models, and presenting proposals to clients with sustainability and environment conditions in mind. A landscape architect is also responsible for liaising with contractors and other external parties, obtaining certifications, and performing research and analysis as needed. Furthermore, as a landscape architect, it is essential to coordinate and encourage the team to reach goals within budgets and deadlines.

Civil engineer vs landscape architect salary

Civil engineers and landscape architects have different pay scales, as shown below.

Civil EngineerLandscape Architect
Average salary$70,950$62,379
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $97,000Between $43,000 And $90,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Rafael, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyThe CitadelTillys
Best paying industryConstructionMedia

Differences between civil engineer and landscape architect education

There are a few differences between a civil engineer and a landscape architect in terms of educational background:

Civil EngineerLandscape Architect
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringLandscape Architecture
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Pennsylvania

Civil engineer vs landscape architect demographics

Here are the differences between civil engineers' and landscape architects' demographics:

Civil EngineerLandscape Architect
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 83.6% Female, 16.4%Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 0.4% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 85.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage5%13%

Differences between civil engineer and landscape architect duties and responsibilities

Civil engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of full sets of contract documents (grading, drainage, water, sewer, paving and SWPPP).
  • Manage project programming requirements and manage HVAC design activities.
  • Project manage the overall reorganizing and restructuring of the telecommunication department.
  • Design engineer and project manager for HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems.
  • Support and troubleshoot Hewlett Packard printers, servers, switches, thin clients, and Cisco phone systems.
  • Handle and continuously update project documentation as as-built records and construction record reports.
  • Show more

Landscape architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage streetscape improvement program and implement urban forestry programs.
  • Manage technical architects for development and support of existing and new terminal platforms to support Walmart mobile and batch application infrastructure.
  • Supervise teams of consultants including structural, civil, and MEP engineers and lighting, leer, code & waterproofing consultants.
  • Respond to incoming RFI's.
  • Process 3D renderings and animations in lumion.
  • Design 3-Dimensional models of designs and project elements using SketchUp 3D.
  • Show more

Civil engineer vs landscape architect skills

Common civil engineer skills
  • Civil 3D, 11%
  • Engineering Design, 7%
  • Cost Estimates, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 4%
  • Engineering Projects, 4%
Common landscape architect skills
  • Cost Estimates, 13%
  • SketchUp, 9%
  • Site Analysis, 9%
  • Landscape Design, 9%
  • Site Inventory, 7%
  • GIS, 6%

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