Landscape architects meet with clients, engineers and building architects, prepare site plans, specifications and cost estimates, arrange land features and structures, prepare plans in computer aided design and drafting (CADD) software, select landscaping materials, analyze environmental reports on drainage and energy use, inspect project progress, and seek new work through marketing and presentations.
The short answer: limited exposure, with average growth. The ILO's 2025 index places landscape architects in its minimal exposure band, with a score of 0.37. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 1,700 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed landscape architects are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Architects | Minimal exposure | 0.37 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape architects | Grow 4% | About 1,700 |
The BLS says landscape architects will be needed to plan and develop landscapes for commercial, industrial and residential projects. It adds that environmental concerns and efforts to conserve water and prevent waterway pollution also may create some demand.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting plan drawings and visuals in design software.
- Drafting specifications and cost estimates, with figures to check.
- Summarizing environmental reports on land conditions.
What stays with landscape architects
- Clients and teams: working out project needs with clients, engineers and architects.
- Design judgment: arranging land features and choosing materials that suit the site.
- Site checks: inspecting progress to make sure work follows the plans.
- Checking AI help: generated drawings and estimates can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS expects steady demand from building projects and from water and pollution concerns. Plans are already drawn in CADD software, and the site and client work stays with people. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace architects?, will AI replace urban planners? and will AI replace landscapers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for landscape architects at $79,870 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace landscape architects?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,700 openings a year.
How exposed are landscape architects to AI?
The ILO places landscape architects in its minimal exposure band, with a score of 0.37.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to commercial, industrial and residential projects and to water conservation and pollution concerns.
What do landscape architects do?
They prepare site plans, specifications and cost estimates, design in CADD software, choose materials and inspect project progress.