The aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces can have a big influence on the value of homes and other buildings by making a strong first impression that attracts potential buyers. The term "landscaper" refers to workers who design outdoor spaces as well as the laborers who perform the psychical labor necessary to execute and maintain landscaping designs. Landscaping designers need to be licensed, which usually requires a degree in landscape architecture.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the average annual income of landscape designers was $66,520 as of May 2011. The Bureau's income estimate is based on an average wage of $31.98 and 2,080 hours of work a year. The top 10 percent of workers in the occupation earned more than $99,560 a year, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $37,620. Fifty percent of landscaping designers earned between $47,600 and $81,480 a year.
Landscaping laborers perform a wide variety of tasks to create and maintain outdoor spaces, including planting trees and shrubs, laying sod, mowing, watering, digging and installing sprinklers. BLS data show that landscaping laborers earned an average annual wage of $25,650 as of May 2011. Workers in the top 10 percent in terms of annual income earned more than $37,580 a year, while those in the bottom 10 percent earned less than $17,130. Half of landscaping laborers earned between $19,290 and $29,720 a year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that New Mexico was the top paying state for landscape architects as of May 2011 with an average annual income of $86,460. The District of Columbia ranked second at an average of $83,130 a year and California ranked third at an average of $78,220. For landscaping and groundskeeping workers, D.C. paid the highest annual wage at an average of $35,110. Workers in Massachusetts averaged $32,120 a year and those in Alaska averaged $31,320.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of landscape designers to increase 16 percent from 2010 to 2020. This growth rate is 2 percentage points higher than the national average. The BLS projects 21 percent job growth for landscaping and groundskeeping laborers. Job prospects should be favorable for landscaping designers, although stiff competition is likely for jobs at large landscape architecture firms. Landscape laborers should enjoy good job prospects due to high demand for workers.
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