Landscape Architects

(NOC 2152)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Landscape architects incorporate the physical, natural, and social sciences to plan and design environments that are both functional and attractive. They create landscape designs, develop contract documents, and oversee the construction of landscape development for commercial projects, office complexes, parks, golf courses and residential development. Landscape architects work for government environmental and development agencies, landscape consulting firms, and by architectural and engineering firms, or they are self-employed.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Landscape architects incorporate the physical, natural, and social sciences to plan and design environments that are both functional and attractive. They create landscape designs, develop contract documents, and oversee the construction of landscape development for commercial projects, office complexes, parks, golf courses and residential development. Landscape architects work for government environmental and development agencies, landscape consulting firms, and by architectural and engineering firms, or they are self-employed.

Job duties

Landscape architects:

  • Consult with clients to determine design needs.
  • Survey and assess designated sites and develop designs taking into consideration landscape features, buildings, climate, future usage, and other aspects.
  • Prepare or oversee the preparation of detailed drawings for sites, including features like trees, shrubs, gardens, lighting, walkways, patios, decks, benches, fences, retaining walls and fountains.
  • Prepare or oversee preparation of site plans, reports, sketches, models, photographs, maps, land use studies and design plans.
  • Estimate costs, prepare specifications, and evaluate tenders for landscape construction projects.
  • Conduct environmental design studies, including environmental assessment, planning and the preservation and re-creation of historical sites.
  • Carry out community and neighbourhood physical planning studies, participate in multidisciplinary urban design studies, and prepare design guidelines.
  • May manage and supervise landscape construction work.

Sample job titles

  • landscape architect
  • senior landscape architect

Skills

  • A good imagination and powers of visualization are necessary. You should enjoy detailed and precise work and be able to solve problems with creativity and originality. The ability to communicate and cooperate with others is important.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in landscape architecture.
  • A master's degree in landscape architecture may be required.
  • Membership in the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects may be required.
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.

Other considerations

  • Landscape architects often work in offices but may also need to walk and hike on work sites to assess or inspect construction. Travel, long hours, and deadline pressure are part of the job.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

80.0%

employed full-time

40.0%

self employed

40.0%
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60%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
50.2

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
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80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

60.0%

Halifax

N/A
40.0%

North Shore

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

60.0%

Professional, scientific and technical services

40.0%

Public administration

What is the age of Employment?

50.0%

55-64

50.0%

45-54

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

60.0%

Master

N/A
40.0%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to apply principles of planning, analysis, and architecture to the development and improvement of urban areas and surrounding regions, and to function as professional planners. They include courses in principles of architecture, master plan development, service, communications, and transportation systems design, community and commercial development, zoning, land use planning, applied economics, policy analysis, applicable laws and regulations, and professional responsibilities and managerial duties.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Landscape Architecture (BSc, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)

University Program

These programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of landscape architecture and research in various aspects of the field. They include courses in geology and hydrology, soils, groundcovers, and horticultural elements, project and site planning, landscape design, history, and theory, environmental design, applicable laws and regulations, and professional responsibilities and standards.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Landscape Architect

Professional Designation: Professional designation exists and shows that the holder has met the standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.

Regulating body:
Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects
Dartmouth, NS

Contacts

Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects
Dartmouth, NS
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
Ottawa, ON
Landscape Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.