How to hire a landscape architect and planner

How to hire a landscape architect and planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step landscape architect and planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a landscape architect and planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new landscape architect and planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a landscape architect and planner, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A landscape architect and planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, landscape architects and planner from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of landscape architect and planner salaries for various roles:

   Type of Landscape Architect And Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Landscape Architect And Planner	Landscape architects design parks and the outdoor spaces of campuses, recreational facilities, private homes, and other open areas.	$19-55
   Architect	Architects are licensed professionals who specialize in art and science of design, building constructions, and structures. They play a vital role in the construction and not only responsible for the appearance but also the safety of users... Show more	$25-65
   Project Architect	A project architect spearheads and oversees a construction project's design and development procedures from the planning stages to its completion, ensuring it adheres to standards, budgets, and deadlines. They primarily coordinate with the clients to understand and identify project needs, leading the engineers and contractors throughout the project... Show more	$25-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sketch
   • Design Development
   • Architectural Design
   • CAD
   • Development Projects
   • GIS
   • Business Development
   • Client Relations
   • Urban Design
   • Landscape Architects
   • Construction Administration
   • Design Problems
   • Project Proposals
   • Building Permits

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage coordination of structural, MEP, and audio-visual consultants for documentation completion.
   • Manage technical architects for development and support of existing and new terminal platforms to support Walmart mobile and batch application infrastructure.
   • Coordinate with MEP disciplines for preparation of construction documents.
   • Manage technical architects for development and support of existing and new terminal platforms to support Walmart mobile and batch application infrastructure.
   • Acquire design specialization in hardscapes, green roof/rooftop knowledge and sustainable planting plans including naturalize meadows and wetland mitigation.

   More landscape architect and planner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your landscape architect and planner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A landscape architect and planner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, landscape architects and planner' average salary in indiana is 42% less than in virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level landscape architects and planner earn 65% less than senior-level landscape architects and planner.
   • Certifications. A landscape architect and planner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a landscape architect and planner's salary.

   Average landscape architect and planner salary

   $68,583yearly

   $32.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level landscape architect and planner salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average landscape architect and planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$90,511	$44
   2	Virginia	$87,102	$42
   3	Washington	$79,283	$38
   4	Massachusetts	$77,702	$37
   5	Idaho	$76,628	$37
   6	New Jersey	$73,127	$35
   7	Oregon	$69,701	$34
   8	Pennsylvania	$68,501	$33
   9	Maryland	$66,838	$32
   10	Florida	$63,455	$31
   11	Texas	$58,444	$28
   12	North Carolina	$57,050	$27
   13	Kentucky	$50,409	$24

   Average landscape architect and planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Lockheed Martin	$79,822	$38.38	209
   2	The Judge Group	$78,242	$37.62	3
   3	CDI	$77,681	$37.35	2
   4	IPS-Integrated Project Services	$72,946	$35.07
   5	Boston Society of Architects	$72,205	$34.71
   6	Merrick & Co	$69,690	$33.50	2
   7	University of Texas System	$67,703	$32.55
   8	City of Rockville	$65,305	$31.40
   9	HKS Architects Inc.	$64,940	$31.22	39
   10	Zgf Architects	$60,524	$29.10	7
   11	Page Southerland Page	$58,607	$28.18

4. Writing a landscape architect and planner job description

   A job description for a landscape architect and planner role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a landscape architect and planner job description:

   Landscape architect and planner job description example

   Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc. (MRA) is currently seeking a Land Planner / Landscape Architect with 10 or more years of experience in master planning, site planning, detailed design and landscape architecture for our Georgetown, Delaware office . This opportunity is ideally suited to an individual seeking a greater level of responsibility in managing diverse projects with our landscape architects, architects, and engineers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

   Land Planner Responsibilities will include:

   • Planning (from concept – thru refinement and jurisdictional submission) of large scale, mixed use, master planned communities,
   • Detailed site planning for all asset classes (residential, retail, office, ecommerce, hospitality, institutional, etc.),
   • Landscape architectural design and detailing for a variety of land development components such as monumental entrances, streetscapes, clubhouses/community centers, playgrounds, plazas, courtyards, pocket parks, etc.,
   • Understanding local jurisdictional requirements from comprehensive plans, to zoning codes, to detailed subdivision, landscape, and signage regulations/guidelines, including the ability to help craft modifications to these documents,
   • Active participation in industry and professional associations such as ULI, MBIA, NAIOP, ICSC, and
   • Presenting to clients, stakeholders, and governing bodies, and writing reports, technical memos, and letters.

   The MRA City Studio working environment is an open-concept design for our architects and planners/landscape architect, friendly to design critique and work-sharing. Active collaboration is a critical part of MRA's success and is encouraged throughout the company.

   Requirements:

   • Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture,
   • Landscape Architecture Licensure,
   • 10+ years of experience in planning and landscape architectural design,
   • Excellent written, graphic, and oral presentation communication skills,
   • Fluency in AutoCAD (Civil 3D), MS Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign), and 3D modeling software (Revit, SketchUp, Rhino), and
   • The ability to collect, organize, and present data in creative ways to team members and clients.

   MRA offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

   • Competitive Salary, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays
   • Yearly bonus potential
   • Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending
   • Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
   • 401(k) with Company Match
   • Educational Assistance Program
   • Free membership to professional societies
   • Professional Growth & Advancement – we'll help you get there! - Seminars, Conventions, Lunch & Learns, Mentoring, Software Training
   • Employee Referral Bonuses
   • Employee Recognition Program
   • Company picnics and events and a great working environment!

   
   
   We ensure nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and all revisions and addendums thereof.

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right landscape architect and planner for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find landscape architect and planner candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as aaonetwork, aia , ala , an jobs, archareer .
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit landscape architects and planner, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new landscape architect and planner

   Once you've found the landscape architect and planner candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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