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Job outlook for landscape designers in the United States
Landscape designer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected landscape designer job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 0 new jobs for landscape designers are projected over the next decade.
Landscape designer salaries have increased 11% for landscape designers in the last 5 years.
There are over 14,045 landscape designers currently employed in the United States.
There are 49,449 active landscape designer job openings in the US.
The average landscape designer salary is $55,516.
Are landscape designer jobs in demand?
Landscape designer job and salary trends over time
Landscape designer jobs over time
Landscape designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,045 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,705 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 16,342 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 15,037 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 15,343 | 0.00% |
Average landscape designer salary over time
Landscape designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,516 | $26.69 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $54,518 | $26.21 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $53,629 | $25.78 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $51,688 | $24.85 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $49,896 | $23.99 | --0.5% |
Landscape designer jobs by state
Most common states for landscape designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 187 | 27% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 693 | 9% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 619 | 9% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 393 | 9% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 645 | 8% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,657 | 7% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 728 | 7% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 377 | 7% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 211 | 7% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,134 | 6% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 368 | 6% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 353 | 6% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 83 | 6% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 63 | 6% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 665 | 5% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 603 | 5% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 521 | 5% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 465 | 5% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 141 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
Most common cities for landscape designers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood | 1 | 3% | $53,423 |
| 2 | Bonita Springs | 1 | 2% | $49,957 |
| 3 | Encinitas | 1 | 2% | $63,862 |
| 4 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $54,311 |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale | 2 | 1% | $49,714 |
| 6 | Overland Park | 2 | 1% | $54,515 |
| 7 | Bellevue | 1 | 1% | $57,387 |
| 8 | Centennial | 1 | 1% | $53,415 |
| 9 | Chico | 1 | 1% | $65,966 |
| 10 | Escondido | 1 | 1% | $63,874 |
| 11 | Los Angeles | 5 | 0% | $64,569 |
| 12 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $63,727 |
| 13 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $53,375 |
| 14 | Charlotte | 2 | 0% | $45,344 |
| 15 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $56,550 |
| 16 | Seattle | 2 | 0% | $57,443 |
| 17 | Tucson | 2 | 0% | $50,114 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $45,108 |
Landscape Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of landscape designer experts
Truckee Meadows Community College
What general advice would you give to a Landscape Designer?
Kreg Mebust: Climate change is at the forefront of many discussions, locally and nationally. Landscape
Architects can and do play a vital role in this discourse and outcomes. For example, they are trained to
mitigate the global rise in temperatures by analyzing and mitigating urban heat islands, selecting
appropriate drought resistant plants and trees and planning open spaces and parks for respite from the
heat allowing users to reconnect with nature's restorative qualities. In my position, as a professor
teaching the subject of landscape architecture, I have found that our next generation is concerned about
our environment and want to be a part of the solution.
What Landscape Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kreg Mebust: While every job has its plusses and minuses, landscape architecture is not immune. Landscape
architects may often be frustrated when creating policy changes via city municipal codes are a lengthy
and time-consuming process. It is often said, that we plant a tree for the enjoyment of the next
generation, and while some solutions see results overnight, some require patience. As for the joy of
Landscape Architecture, it is a splendid combination of the creative and analytical sides of our brains.
As stated, we are graphic problem solvers. In my position, as a practicing landscape architect for more
than 35 years, it is rewarding to see a design vision come to fruition. It is meaningful to see a design
solution mitigate an environmental concern. In closing, design matters and should be enjoyed and
accessible by all. Conversely, our pool of Landscape Architects is coming from more diverse cultures and
backgrounds. A field once dominated by men, today more and more females can be found within the
profession.
What will help Landscape Designers increase their earning potential?
Kreg Mebust: At the core, Landscape Architects are graphic problem solvers. It is a licensed profession that
protects the health, safety, and welfare of citizens and provides stewardship of the environment. On a
daily bases, they can be found working on design problems that often include: the design of city and
neighborhood parks, parking lot layouts, reconfiguring topographical contours to safely move people
along sidewalks or along a backcountry trail, creating spatial experiences or places accessible to all
people using plant material, hardscapes, and outdoor furnishings. To ensure the success of these places
they analyze soils, select suitable plantings and design irrigation systems specific to each site. They are
aware of one of our most precious resources - water. Landscape Architects are trained to convey water
safely without causing soil erosion. They can be found evaluating the efficacy of bioretention swales
and mitigating sediment buildup in our waterways. In addition, Landscape Architects can be found
"knee-deep" in coordination meetings with clients and the many related design professionals such as
architects, civil engineers, geo-technical engineers, regulatory municipalities, etc. It is common to find a
landscape architect serving their community by joining community advisory boards, state regulatory
boards, home owners' associations, historical preservation committees, and volunteering to help write
the questions for the Landscape Architectural Registration Exam. For as much as Landscape architecture
is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and health, welfare and safety discipline it is
creativity that brings many to the field. Landscape Architecture is a beautiful blend of science and art.
Many Landscape Architects are talented at hand sketching and computer graphic arts, while others use
their skills in the artful creation and implementation of our beloved 3-dimensional public art pieces that
help give our communities context and tie us together.