Reply To: Landscape Designer Prices

Hi Amber…You’re more than welcome. Yes, I really feel strongly about getting 50% of the Design Fee up front (with a written (signed & dated Contract)…The contract isn’t “personal”, just good business practice. And, when a Client puts up 50% of the Design fee..they have skin in the game. Some Clients will take advantage of some Landscape Designers & just take the “Preliminary Design”…and run to their nearest Landscape Contractor. If they do, the Landscape Designer who didn’t get that 50% of the Fee up front…is plain out of luck.

I have read on-line, that new Landscape Architects these days, earn approx. $28.00 per hour (plus benefits) when they join a Landscape Architecture Firm. So, with a few years of design experience….Hourly Rates could be from $35.00 to say $50.00. Back 10 go 15 years ago, when I was SUPER busy and working tons of hours daily…I was able to get over $100.00 per hour…but, part of that was due to my years of experience.

I joined the Website called “Upwork”. It’s free to join. They just need to verify who you are with an on-line Skype chat…and verify your physical address (I used my Texas Driver’s License). This Site has it’s pluses & minuses. Most Clients are wanting the LOWEST DESIGN FEES possible…so, you just have to search. I have only designed a few Projects on Upwork, as the FEES normally don’t very well for me. But, if you know autoCAD and have some design experience…it’s worth looking into. All Design work is Virtual..for every State in America. I even designed a project in Sydney, Australia on Upwork.

For me to take on a Design Project now…I really feel like I need to earn around $65.00 per hour. But, I’m pretty selective, as I don’t need to design any longer…just do, because I enjoy it. But, there are many Landscape Design Projects on Upwork that pay from $25.00 to $50.00…but, there is a lot of competition…even with Designers from Foreign Nations who are willing to design for $10.00 to $20.00. Some are very talented, some aren’t.

I also design for (3) Out of State Landscape Architecture Firms…to provide Preliminary Designs & Color Renderings (High-End Residential, Commercial & Multi-Family Projects. In my past, for many many years, I designed something like 200 Apartment Communities in 9 different States (because I designed for a Dallas, Texas LA Firm) that specialized in Apartment design work…so, learned that niche…really top dollar for those types of projects. I practically made a Career designing Apartment Communities…as the Fees for each Average $25K each. But, I have some Landscape Architect Friends who have done very well designing Residential for the past 35 to 40 years…Residential, especially the High-End Residential market will always keep going. And, Residential is also the easiest way to get “experience” and land new projects when you beginning your design career.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask or message me. I have mentored many many younger Landscape Architects & am always happy to help. I remember when I first began my design career…it just takes some time and experience to learn this profession, but, it’s a GREAT profession, for sure!

Bob