Landscape architects
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Landscape Architects: Plan and design land areas for such projects as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.
Landscape architects held about 25,000 jobs in 2004. Almost 6 out of 10 workers were employed in firms that provide architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, and landscaping services. State and local governments were the next largest employers. About 1 out of 4 landscape architects was self-employed.
Employment of landscape architects is concentrated in urban and suburban areas throughout the country; some landscape architects work in rural areas, particularly those employed by the Federal Government to plan and design parks and recreation areas.
In May 2004, median annual earnings for landscape architects were $53,120. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,930 and $70,400. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,390 and the highest 10 percent earned over $90,850. Architectural, engineering, and related services employed more landscape architects than any other group of industries, and there the median annual earnings were $51,670 in May 2004.
In 2005, the average annual salary for all landscape architects in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $74,508.
Because many landscape architects work for small firms or are self-employed, benefits tend to be less generous than those provided to workers in large organizations.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Landscape Architects)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Landscape architects | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Utilities employment: 40 mean earnings: $70,950 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,560 | $53,730 | $77,510 | $87,320 | $93,210 |
| Utilities employment: 40 mean earnings: $70,950 | $42,560 | $53,730 | $77,510 | $87,320 | $93,210 |
| Construction employment: 710 mean earnings: $54,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,030 | $41,350 | $51,670 | $64,880 | $80,740 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: n.a. mean earnings: $57,020 | $38,930 | $46,190 | $56,410 | $66,700 | $77,490 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 370 mean earnings: $53,310 | $32,400 | $38,260 | $48,370 | $61,040 | $82,240 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 50 mean earnings: $55,370 | $38,370 | $41,580 | $47,640 | $65,360 | $87,100 |
| Retail Trade employment: 480 mean earnings: $47,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,370 | $33,160 | $45,410 | $57,600 | $72,340 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 450 mean earnings: $47,060 | $24,980 | $32,380 | $44,040 | $57,000 | $73,800 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 200 mean earnings: $74,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,980 | $45,240 | $73,100 | $91,230 | $129,240 |
| Real Estate employment: 190 mean earnings: $74,100 | $32,850 | $44,690 | $72,840 | $90,970 | $129,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,860 mean earnings: $59,730 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,710 | $42,590 | $54,130 | $70,260 | $91,460 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 12,860 mean earnings: $59,730 | $34,710 | $42,590 | $54,130 | $70,260 | $91,460 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 150 mean earnings: $54,460 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,750 | $39,740 | $51,760 | $67,680 | $82,090 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,460 | $33,750 | $39,740 | $51,760 | $67,680 | $82,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 3,600 mean earnings: $58,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,250 | $38,280 | $50,070 | $74,830 | $103,050 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 3,600 mean earnings: $58,400 | $29,240 | $38,270 | $50,080 | $74,820 | $103,070 |
| Educational Services employment: 150 mean earnings: $52,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,340 | $40,780 | $51,700 | $62,530 | $75,210 |
| Educational Services employment: 150 mean earnings: $52,830 | $31,340 | $40,780 | $51,700 | $62,530 | $75,210 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 50 mean earnings: $70,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,290 | $47,200 | $64,850 | $91,280 | $116,450 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 50 mean earnings: $72,510 | $39,070 | $48,070 | $69,930 | $94,610 | $118,180 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,940 mean earnings: $63,440 (def) (IG) | $41,350 | $51,760 | $63,800 | $75,980 | $87,150 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 1,940 mean earnings: $63,440 | $41,350 | $51,760 | $63,800 | $75,980 | $87,150 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.