Landscape Architects

What the job really is

Plan and design land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational facilities, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial, and residential sites.

At a glance

• Sector: Architecture & Engineering
• O*NET-SOC code: 17-1012
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.
• Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
• Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.
• Prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.
• Integrate existing land features or landscaping into designs.
• Collaborate with architects or related professionals on whole building design to maximize the aesthetic features of structures or surrounding land and to improve energy efficiency.
• Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
• Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.
• Collaborate with estimators to cost projects, create project plans, or coordinate bids from landscaping contractors.
• Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
• Develop planting plans to help clients garden productively or to achieve particular aesthetic effects.
• Manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Bentley MicroStation, ESRI ArcGIS software, Lumion, McNeel Rhinoceros 3D

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
• Environmental Restoration Planners
• Architectural and Civil Drafters
• Civil Engineers
• Sustainability Specialists
• First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
• Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Landscape Architects — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.