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The differences between landscape architects and urban planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a landscape architect, becoming an urban planner takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an urban planner has an average salary of $65,316, which is higher than the $62,379 average annual salary of a landscape architect.
The top three skills for a landscape architect include cost estimates, sketchup and site analysis. The most important skills for an urban planner are GIS, infrastructure, and visualization.
| Landscape Architect | Urban Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $62,379 | $65,316 |
| Hourly rate | $29.99 | $31.40 |
| Growth rate | - | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 77,084 | 13,883 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
An urban planner is responsible for evaluating land use and condition and providing comprehensive plans and programs that would be beneficial for the entire community. Urban planners' tasks also cover conducting field investigations and collect environmental studies, performing market research and creating proposals for approval of the officials, reviewing recommendations and addressing issues which concern the land and resources, and strategizing comprehensive area plans. An urban planner must consider the community's best interest that would promote growth and development.
Landscape architects and urban planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Landscape Architect | Urban Planner | |
| Average salary | $62,379 | $65,316 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $90,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Tillys | Mapbox |
| Best paying industry | Media | Construction |
There are a few differences between a landscape architect and an urban planner in terms of educational background:
| Landscape Architect | Urban Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Landscape Architecture | Urban Planning |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between landscape architects' and urban planners' demographics:
| Landscape Architect | Urban Planner | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 9.3% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |