How to hire a landscape architect

How to hire a landscape architect, step by step

Here's a step-by-step landscape architect 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 job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new landscape architect
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a landscape architect do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The landscape architect hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect landscape architect also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of landscape architects.

   Type of Landscape Architect	Description	Hourly rate
   Landscape Architect	Landscape architects design parks and the outdoor spaces of campuses, recreational facilities, private homes, and other open areas.	$20-43
   Structural Design Engineer	A Structural Design Engineer designs drawings, specifications, and computer models of structures for building contractors. They help design hospitals, office blocks, houses, bridges, ships, and other structures.	$25-50
   Landscape Designer	A landscape designer is responsible for ensuring that the plan arrangement meets the client's best interests with the highest quality standards. Landscape designers must have strong attention to detail, outstanding communication skills, and excellent analytical skills to provide the best services as the client instructs... Show more	$19-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cost Estimates
   • SketchUp
   • Site Analysis
   • Landscape Design
   • Site Inventory
   • GIS
   • Sketch
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Urban Design
   • Project Management
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Residential Development
   • Design Development
   • Construction Administration

   Check all skills

   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.

   More landscape architect duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your landscape architect job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A landscape architect can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, landscape architects' average salary in indiana is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level landscape architects 52% less than senior-level landscape architects.
   • Certifications. A landscape architect with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a landscape architect's salary.

   Average landscape architect salary

   $62,379yearly

   $29.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level landscape architect salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average landscape architect salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$79,886	$38
   2	New York	$76,290	$37
   3	Virginia	$72,771	$35
   4	District of Columbia	$70,533	$34
   5	Massachusetts	$69,574	$33
   6	New Mexico	$68,385	$33
   7	Washington	$67,263	$32
   8	Louisiana	$61,168	$29
   9	Pennsylvania	$60,486	$29
   10	Illinois	$60,356	$29
   11	Colorado	$59,766	$29
   12	Maryland	$59,119	$28
   13	Florida	$58,478	$28
   14	Texas	$56,960	$27
   15	Georgia	$56,399	$27
   16	Michigan	$56,314	$27
   17	Minnesota	$54,687	$26
   18	North Carolina	$51,178	$25
   19	Arizona	$50,992	$25
   20	Missouri	$47,931	$23

   Average landscape architect salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tillys	$103,657	$49.84
   2	Oculus	$81,525	$39.19
   3	Student Conservation Association	$80,707	$38.80
   4	The Office of James Burnett	$79,432	$38.19
   5	James & Co.	$77,199	$37.11
   6	National Park Foundation	$75,942	$36.51
   7	George F. Young	$75,886	$36.48
   8	Civil & Environmental Consultants	$75,776	$36.43
   9	Lifescapes	$75,295	$36.20
   10	Jacobs Engineering Group	$72,454	$34.83
   11	City of Jacksonville	$70,737	$34.01
   12	Raymond	$70,723	$34.00	1
   13	City of Reno	$70,159	$33.73
   14	MKSK	$69,372	$33.35
   15	WGI	$68,305	$32.84	7
   16	STV Group	$68,035	$32.71	4
   17	Bowman Consulting Group	$67,728	$32.56	10
   18	Robert A.M. Stern Architects	$67,463	$32.43	1
   19	Loureiro Engineering Associates	$67,431	$32.42
   20	Pei Cobb Freed & Partners	$67,259	$32.34

4. Writing a landscape architect job description

   A job description for a landscape architect 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 job description:

   Landscape architect job description example

   Provide technical support on projects by performing a variety of landscape architecture related tasks and assignments including preparing design/analysis calculations; developing plans and specifications; graphics and renderings, preparing observation reports or feasibility reports; and conducting reviews and analyses for special projects. Will see that project tasks are complete, accurate, and in accordance with landscape architecture best practices.
   Responsibilities • Assist in all aspects of the design process for landscape and lighting plans and park/recreation design including specifications writing and construction plan detailing and development.
   • Participate in initial set up, progress and detailing of landscape plans working with AutoCAD.
   • Check, review and schedule projects for CADD Operators and perform CADD work.
   • Maintain awareness of project deadlines, project dates and budgetary guidelines.
   • Coordinate submissions to various agencies.
   • Collect project data and requirements.
   • Perform plant material counts. Identifications and inventories.
   • Prepare graphic presentation exhibits.
   • Coordinate department printing needs.
   • Perform landscape construction installation observation when required.
   • Prepare landscape cost estimates as required. Qualifications • Education: Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture.
   • Experience: 2-4 years of related experience to Civil/Site.
   • Licensure/Certifications: Registered Landscape Architect preferred.
   • Advanced knowledge of landscape architecture, AutoCAD and plant material for design and vegetation inventories.
   • Skilled in graphic presentations.
   • Proficient in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
   • Proficient with Sketch Up, Proficient working knowledge with Photoshop/Illustrator/Visual/Land FX. Lumion program.
   • Working knowledge of MS Office.
   • GPS/GIS experience a plus. What We Offer At Colliers Engineering & Design, our people are our most important resource. That's why we are committed to providing all our employees with a safe, comfortable work environment, potential for career advancement, and the ability to impact society through their projects as well as Company sponsored activities.
   This dedication begins with supporting a work life balance through a generous compensation package that includes: company paid medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid pregnancy disability leave; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; a company-matched 401(k)/Roth; paid time off that includes parental and military leave; employee referral and professional license bonuses and a straight time policy that compensates exempt employees for billable hours worked in excess of 40 billable hours within a work week.
   We have also created an internal culture that provides the resources and technology needed to encourage personal and professional growth opportunities through reimbursement for education; a free in-house resource for hundreds of educational and self-enrichment courses; mentorship program; wellness program; Women's Organization and ongoing philanthropic opportunities.
   Apply today to learn how you can join our team of professionals, so we can help you Accelerate Your Success!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right landscape architect 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.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your landscape architect job on Zippia to find and attract quality landscape architect candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as aaonetwork, aia , ala , an jobs, archareer .
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit landscape architects, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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

   Once you've selected the best landscape architect candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new landscape architect first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire a landscape architect?