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Boston Career Explorer

Architecture and Engineering

Landscape Architects

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.

Also called: AP BD+C (Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction), Golf Course Architect, Land Planner, Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Landscape Planner

Median pay in Greater Boston
$91,520
$44.00/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
350
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−2.4%
40 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Internship/residency

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$70,460$78,690$91,520$92,640$125,010

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure68 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 74
  • Language-model AIOE 70
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 60

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

Landscape architects have higher AI exposure, though observed AI use is little or none so far. Tools may help with analyzing site data, drafting plans, and estimating costs. Talking with clients, walking a site, and inspecting finished work rely on people. Massachusetts job counts are projected to dip slightly.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing site and drainage data
  • Drafting site plans and cost estimates

Still relies on people

  • Inspecting work on site for quality
  • Talking with clients, engineers, and architects

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

    Your site inspections and blueprint reading carry over to supervising construction crews, with pay near $99,890 and lower AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$8,370 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +7.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

    Your habit of checking work against specifications fits supervising repair and installation teams, a role that also stresses safety and inspection.

    Pay difference
    +$3,450 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    You already read blueprints and plan how things fit together. This trade pays about $120,840, has very low AI exposure, and starts with an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$29,320 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

2 programs near Boston (plus 2 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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