Best Careers 2009: Landscape Architect

You Really Want This Career?

I went back to school for an MLA 6 years after earning (and going nowhere) with my liberal arts BA. I wanted to be the avid environmentalist, design outdoor spaces, work with plants and spend some of my work hours out of an office.

I have the MLA, 5 years of full time experience and have yet to find an LA job description that comes close to the vision I had. I spend 99% of my time at a computer drafting sidewalks and planting plans that a more senior person designed or "suggested" for commercial, institutional or residential development that are about as creative and exciting as doing taxes. The clients want the minimum the codes will let them get away with and the same tired species of plants that have created a monoculture and a landcape of sameness. Many of the projects, sorry, MOST of the projects are located where they contribute to urban sprawl, transportation strain and ecological degredation.

Senior practitioners are either unwilling or unable, due to project budgets, to let entry and mid level people attend meetings, inspect and observe fieldwork, or sit down and give us a shot at refining and expanding our design skills. So how will we ever progress and reach the position they are in when they've all retired?

As far as pay and the stability of the profession? As I said, I have 5 years of experience so this is my first recession (I started in the huge housing boom). I have been laid off once and have seen my pay dramatically DECREASE in the past two years. I never expected to become wealthy in this profession, especially working for someone else, but I spent more on my education than my yearly salary has yet to reach.

All the talk about "green", sustainable, infill, being stewards of the land, restoring ecosystems, and applying cutting edge stormwater solutions is only practiced by a few, in a few firms that have found the niche and the clients willing to work with them. Most of us make a living off bowing to clients who could care less about more than the bottom line. And even though landscape architecture is supposed to be this overarching, wide field and we should be the best choice to lead design teams of engineers and architects we seem to be left out of the early stages of the project by the client and rest of the design team (civil engineer, architect) until its time to "shrub it up" with what's left of the budget. I see architects and civil engineers being appointed the team leader and they do a great deal of the site design without us, which is supposed to be one of our strong points.

Know what you're getting into and then pick a specialty and figure out where they're practicing it.

D of FL @ Jun 03, 2009 15:46:13 PM

Interesting

As a recent graduate of Landscape Architecture and in the field for about 2 years, I think in order to make the statement that Landscape Architecture is one of the best careers in 2009, it is important to realize that becoming specialized in a certain area is key. People who leave school with a BLA and have not taken it upon themselves to research a particular aspect of the profession will find themselves profoundly lost in the sea of others with the exact same education levels. With job availability being what it is in this lovely economy, you need to stand apart from other potential applicants. However, when this recession ends, you can bet that Landscape Architecture jobs and opportunities will be as prolific as they were before...just have to wait.

SoCal J of CA @ Jun 03, 2009 04:06:25 AM

Agreed

I just have to post an agreed with most comments posted. Land Arch is a great profession if you can find work, but there is only one student with a job in the LAA graduating class here, and it's in Urban Planning. Just so you know.

Laura of FL @ May 27, 2009 15:15:54 PM

Here's my thought, from outside LA field

I'm interested in the LA field, but I can't hardly believe the comments posted here! I refuse to be paralyzed into joining this field by professionals stigmied by a recession. My underlying thought is: AT LEAST YOU LIKE YOUR JOB.

What is the complaint here; that LA isn't booming when the county is facing a huge financial crisis; that you aren't making enough money to pay for a house, stay-at-home mom, kids colleges; that your job isn't as stable as you would like it be? Maybe these aren't complaints about the field so much as complaints about the economy.

I mean, what field IS doing well right now? Name 2! Even the "stable" and "highly sought after" fields (engineering, nursing, etc) are receiving layoffs and significant cuts. If people own their own business, then yes, expect to take the hardest hits. Personal businesses are very risky and most (B.A. majors anyone?) fail within the first 5 years. On the other hand, personal businesses receive the biggest paydays (for their owners). Then I think: you don't have any overhead to operate! What a great gig.

I will be attending UNM for a MLA in fall after my previous Masters (Public Admin--degree for the "stable" gov't sector) failed to yield any better of a job (talk about a let down). For those that ARE chosing a new profession, $ is not what it cracked up to be. We know this, because we previously chose a career based on pragmatic decisions. Then we discovered how dull life can be and how quality of life is more important than we realized.

I would rather suffer recessions and be on unemployment with a crative, fulfilling job than ever sit inside doing sales calls about a product you don't care about to make other people money that you won't see. At the end of your life and 30+year career, a more "stable" job will leave you with nothing to show for your energy of doing a horrific 8-5.

I'm not idealistic: I fully realize that many professionals will be better than me as a LArch; that I won't make my first million in LA; that i won't be recognized as an important community designer; that other fields are more entrenched in the construction/design process than LA; and that I may suffer layoffs in harder times; I may have a hard time finding a decent job.

However, I anticipate: I will feel good that I contributed to doing something worthwhile in the world.

If that's where your heart and soul is(doing something good in cities) than I can't IMAGINE another field more rewarding.

I think this article is right because LA is proactive in where the country/world is going, in a big way.

My last comment is on the fact that some people are having a hard time finding a job right out of school. Look at the NALA website, they have a survey for recent graduates finding work: almost 55% found work (countrywide) right out of school in '08. I dare you to find that sort employment record in other more "secure" professions (minus doctors, engineers, etc)

Saddened Jonny in Nor Cal of CA @ May 22, 2009 14:54:17 PM

Questions

I' am a high school student in a class called Carreer Planing. We find what jobs would suit us best. We have to write three papers about jobs that we are interested in. I choose Landscape Architect. I was wondering what colleges are out there for that? I only found University of Minnesota, is there other in minnesota? Also what personal charactaristics are needed for this occupation? Thanks.

High School Student of MN @ May 20, 2009 15:26:29 PM

Are you kidding me.

Landscape Architecture is alright. But as far as being one of the best jobs of 2009. Their aren't even any landscape architecture jobs available.

Aaron Coleman of CA @ May 14, 2009 02:54:10 AM

Landscape Architecture in Phoenix

Hey "et of AZ"...Is that for design and construction?

If that is for design, you need to contact me ASAP, I'm sure I can help you out. If it's for construction, the cost depends on the size and complexity of your project. For just plants and irrigation, you should be able to get it done for $1.50 to 3.50 per square foot

Regarding the profession in general. Look for jobs and see what you find. Does $50,000 for 5-10 years experience seem worthwhile? Do that math if you have a family, house, car, and school loans.

That being said, the profession itself is alot of fun and rewarding, just not financially, sorry.

I went out on my own so I didn't have any salary ceiling. But to do that, you have to be a businessman, and salesman first. Many interested in Landscape Architecture are artists, first and foremost. So the idea of running a business would not really appeal. And how is my business doing now, you may ask? Iwouldn't be writing this if I had work to do. ;)

My advice would be to use your creative side for personal fulfillment. In choosing a college major during this recession, see what careers are the most stable right now. You will get an idea of what will happen to you and your job during the next downturn in the economy.

Steve Eisenberg of AZ @ Apr 16, 2009 12:16:15 PM

Overseas Dev. Work in Conservation & Land Reclamation

I am very interested in Landscape Architecture but not so much on an asthetic design front as on an international development level. I would be interested in working on land use management, sustainable urban design and regeneration, conservancy planning and the reclamation of deteriorated land due to mining in second and third world countries where land development and use is often inefficient and detrimental to the overwhelming growth of cities as rural populations migrate. Is anybody familiar with the job opportunities at non-proift and development agencies or with other international firms that specialize in this kind of work? Is a Masters in Landscape Architecture the sort of specialty training that would be beneficial to handling the projects mentioned?

Natalie Gordon @ Mar 11, 2009 04:39:55 AM