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The differences between landscapers and landscape architects can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a landscaper, becoming a landscape architect takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a landscape architect has an average salary of $62,379, which is higher than the $28,952 average annual salary of a landscaper.
The top three skills for a landscaper include mowing, taking care and GRASS. The most important skills for a landscape architect are cost estimates, sketchup, and site analysis.
| Landscaper | Landscape Architect | |
| Yearly salary | $28,952 | $62,379 |
| Hourly rate | $13.92 | $29.99 |
| Growth rate | 5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 11,147 | 77,084 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A landscaper is responsible for maintaining gardens, plant areas, and other outdoor facilities. Landscapers' duties include reviewing and adjusting landscape design based on the clients' specifications, analyzing garden layouts, measuring land areas and surfaces for the design outlines, installing irrigation systems, maintaining plant growth, and applying fertilizers regularly. Landscapers will also work on removing weeds, trimming overgrown plants, checking defects on landscape equipment, and coordinating with other outdoor design professionals. A landscaper should be knowledgeable about the recent landscaping trends to suggest designs and improve the landscape presentation.
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.
Landscapers and landscape architects have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Landscaper | Landscape Architect | |
| Average salary | $28,952 | $62,379 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $36,000 | Between $43,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Princeton University | Tillys |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Media |
There are a few differences between a landscaper and a landscape architect in terms of educational background:
| Landscaper | Landscape Architect | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Landscape Architecture |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between landscapers' and landscape architects' demographics:
| Landscaper | Landscape Architect | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 1.5% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | 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 Percentage | 3% | 13% |