Landscape Architect Salary in San Francisco, CA
Landscape Architects in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $119,730 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,598 take-home, or $7,050 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscape architect salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,511
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,423
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,736
- California income tax$6,905
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,556
- Take-home pay$84,598
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Landscape Architect pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,970 | $34.60 | $55,980 | $4,665 |
| 25th percentile | $85,010 | $40.87 | $63,853 | $5,321 |
| Median (50th) | $119,730 | $57.56 | $84,598 | $7,050 |
| 75th percentile | $170,410 | $81.93 | $113,907 | $9,492 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $230,340 | $110.74 | $150,089 | $12,507 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,730 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median landscape architect's $84,598 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,174 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.0× the national concentration of landscape architect jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for landscape architects, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $103,670 | $81,762 | $82,898 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $119,730 | $84,598 | $73,174 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $92,970 | $70,182 | $67,168 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,270 | $65,527 | $63,895 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $95,760 | $70,276 | $61,881 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $89,350 | $67,061 | $61,590 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $76,730 | $62,810 | $56,517 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $66,830 | $52,682 | $50,853 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Landscape Architect salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $95,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscape architect make in San Francisco, CA?
The median landscape architect salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $119,730 a year, or about $57.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,010 and $170,410.
What is a landscape architect’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $119,730 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,598 a year ($7,050 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,462 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a landscape architect?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $79,870. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,174 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscape architect afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median landscape architect’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $203,890
- Aerospace Engineer — $191,260
- Electrical Engineer — $166,030
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,440
- Mechanical Engineer — $161,370
- Engineers, All Other — $159,800
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- Environmental Engineer — $138,840
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- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $126,550
- Surveyor — $125,060