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.
U.S. Workers
19,580
Median Salary
$79,660
10-Year Growth
+3.5%
Annual Openings
1,700
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
19 of 19 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Analyze data on conditions such as site location, drainage, or structure location for environmental reports or landscaping plans.
AI: Fully automatable - AI and GIS/hydrology toolchains can analyze site location, drainage, and structure-location data to produce environmental analyses and landscaping recommendations from provided datasets.
Develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentation to generate new work opportunities.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully create marketing materials, proposals, and presentations tailored to target audiences using brand assets, market data, and persuasive copy/design generation.
Prepare graphic representations or drawings of proposed plans or designs.
AI: Fully automatable - Generative design and CAD/graphics AI tools can produce professional graphic representations and drawings of proposed plans from briefings and models.
Create landscapes that minimize water consumption such as by incorporating drought-resistant grasses or indigenous plants.
AI: Fully automatable - Plant selection and water‑efficient landscape design are largely data‑driven and can be fully automated by AI using climate, soil, and native species databases plus optimization tools.
Research latest products, technology, or design trends to stay current in the field.
AI: Fully automatable - AI systems can comprehensively scan literature, product data, patents, and trend sources to synthesize up‑to‑date information and recommendations.
Develop planting plans to help clients garden productively or to achieve particular aesthetic effects.
AI: Fully automatable - Developing detailed planting plans (species, layout, timing, maintenance) is well within AI capabilities given site and client constraints and rich plant databases.
Identify and select appropriate sustainable materials for use in landscape designs, such as recycled wood or recycled concrete boards for structural elements or recycled tires for playground bedding.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can identify and rank sustainable materials by properties, lifecycle data, cost, and availability, producing actionable recommendations for design use.
Confer with clients, engineering personnel, or architects on landscape projects.
AI: Partial - AI can facilitate and partially conduct technical discussions (preparing agendas, briefing materials, and draft communications) but cannot fully replace the nuanced interpersonal negotiation and accountability of live professional conferencing.
Prepare site plans, specifications, or cost estimates for land development.
AI: Partial - AI can produce site-plan drafts, specifications, and cost estimates from inputs and standards, but accurate, stamp-ready plans and local‑code validation still require licensed human oversight and field data.
Inspect landscape work to ensure compliance with specifications, evaluate quality of materials or work, or advise clients or construction personnel.
AI: Partial - AI and remote sensing can perform many inspection tasks (image analysis, compliance checks) but on-the-ground judgement, tactile assessment, and contractual sign-offs still require human inspectors.
Present project plans or designs to public stakeholders, such as government agencies or community groups.
AI: Partial - AI can prepare and even deliver presentations virtually, but effective public stakeholder engagement, real-time Q&A, and political/community accountability typically require a human presenter.
Integrate existing land features or landscaping into designs.
AI: Partial - AI can generate designs that integrate existing site features from photos, maps, and sensor data, but human practitioners are still needed for on‑site judgment, code interpretation, and final adaptation.
Manage the work of subcontractors to ensure quality control.
AI: Partial - AI can assist with scheduling, documentation, remote monitoring, and quality-check lists, but cannot fully replace on‑the‑ground supervision, contractor management, and responsibility for quality control.
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: Partial - AI can provide simulations, energy analyses, and aesthetic options to support multidisciplinary design, but effective collaboration on whole building design still requires human negotiation, coordination, and professional accountability.
Inspect proposed sites to identify structural elements of land areas or other important site information, such as soil condition, existing landscaping, or the proximity of water management facilities.
AI: Partial - Remote sensing and image analysis let AI identify many site features, but accurate assessment of soil conditions and some structural site elements still requires in‑person sampling and professional inspection.
Design and integrate rainwater harvesting or gray and reclaimed water systems to conserve water into building or land designs.
AI: Partial - AI can design rainwater and greywater system concepts and perform hydraulic calculations, but full integration requires local code compliance, permitting, and coordination with engineers and builders.
Collaborate with estimators to cost projects, create project plans, or coordinate bids from landscaping contractors.
AI: Partial - AI can generate cost estimates, project plans, and draft bid packages and help coordinate bids, but final cost validation, negotiation, and contractual coordination remain human responsibilities.
Prepare conceptual drawings, graphics, or other visual representations of land areas to show predicted growth or development of land areas over time.
AI: Partial - By 2025 generative design and GIS/AI tools can produce conceptual drawings and time‑based visualizations, but human designers are still needed for site‑specific judgment, regulations, and nuanced aesthetic decisions.
Provide follow-up consultations for clients to ensure landscape designs are maturing or developing as planned.
AI: Partial - Remote monitoring, image analysis, and automated reporting can support follow‑up, but in‑person assessment, horticultural expertise, and client relationship work still require humans.