If you’re someone who went to college in order to become a professional landscape architect, then you already know that there is a lot more involved than simply knowing how to mow a lawn or plant a few flowers.
Landscape architects are usually required to have a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) or a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA). During that time, they earn 4-5 years of study as it directly relates to design, construction, art and history as well as natural and social sciences. All of that academic hard work tends to pay off too. According to reports that were released in May of 2011, a landscape architect earns, on average, $66,520 annually. That breaks down to about $31.98 per hour.

However, when it comes to finding a job, that sometimes can pose a bit of a challenge. If you are a landscape architect, you are currently in school to study how to become one or you’re simply interested in learning more about what it takes to get employment in the field, we have a few tips on how to start a career below.

Know the Cities to Look At

As more people are becoming environmentally aware, the need for landscape architects is continuing to increase. It is actually projected that the need for them will rise an impressive 16 percent between now and 2020. That is surprisingly 14 percent higher than all other industries. So, finding a job in the field is mostly a matter of knowing where to look and for starters, that’s understanding the cities where they are in the highest demand. Those would include Seattle, Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; San Jose, California and Norwalk, Connecticut as some of the top cities in the country that hire landscape architects on a consistent basis.

Know What Companies to Look For

As far as knowing what kinds of companies to submit your resume to, the options are vaster than you might initially think. When it comes to private sector opportunities, look for engineering, architectural and planning firms. As it relates to public sector businesses—jobs that are on the federal, state and regional levels—places like the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and even the Department of Transportation all seek landscape architects for various projects. There are also many landscape architects who will graduate from college only to then transition from being a student to a teacher by serving as a professor in courses that prospective landscape architects are required to have. Also, you can contact landscaping companies within your area or in the cities (or countries) where you want to live. For instance, if you currently reside in New Jersey, you might want to reach out to RTC Landscaping to see if they have a job that is available or even an internship that can help you to get the experience that you need. And finally, don’t forget to visit some of the job search engines that list landscape architect positions on them. Some of those include Career Builder, Indeed and Get Landscape Architect Jobs. The best of luck to you.