Landscape Designer

A landscape designer creates functional and aesthetic outdoor environments for residential, commercial, and public spaces. They produce detailed design drawings, select plants and hardscaping materials, and coordinate with clients and contractors to implement landscape projects that meet site constraints, climate conditions, and client briefs. The role spans design conception through to site supervision and plant specification.

Conduct site surveys and measure existing landscape features using tape measures, GPS equipment, or digital site mapping tools to establish baseline site conditions. Interpret soil tests, drainage assessments, and site orientation data to determine planting zones and hardscape placement suitable for Australian climate regions. Develop landscape design concepts using CAD software (such as AutoCAD or SketchUp) including plan views, elevation drawings, and 3D visualisations. Select native and exotic plants appropriate to local climate, soil type, water availability, and design aesthetic, considering mature height and spread. Specify hardscaping materials including pavers, gravel, timber, stone, and edging, ensuring compliance with local council planning requirements and building codes. Prepare detailed planting plans with species names, quantities, spacing, and maintenance schedules for landscape contractors and nurseries. Calculate project costs by quantifying materials (mulch, soil, plants, paving) and labour requirements, and present cost estimates to clients. Liaise with clients to understand design preferences, budget constraints, and intended use of the landscape space, incorporating feedback into revised designs.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need formal qualifications (diploma or advanced diploma) before you can work independently, which takes 2 to 3 years. Pay is modest and heavily project-dependent: work dries up in economic downturns. You're also battling DIY culture and cheap online design tools that undercut professional fees, plus clients often ignore your plant recommendations and blame you when things die.

Regional areas have fewer opportunities. Practically, you need to be where developers, councils, and wealthy homeowners are spending on outdoor spaces. Remote work is rare since site surveys are essential.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2321, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Advise on landscapescore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Digital Literacycore
• Goal Setting and Planningcore
• Negotiationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Characteristics of plants
• Community Development
• Correspondence Drafting
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Process Documentation
• Supplier Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Landscape Designer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026