Who is the average Landscape Architect? What does (s)he earn, and how does (s)he fit into the current economic scene? According to the US Department of Labor?EUR??,,????'???s Bureau of Labor Statistic?EUR??,,????'???s findings for 2000, the Landscape Architect is somewhat of an entrepreneur, and educated analyst and planner of the land. Statistics show that 26% of the roughly 22,000 Landscape Architecture jobs held in 2000, or almost four times the proportion of all professionals (you could also say 1 in 4) of Landscape Architects are self-employed. The US department of labor cites low start-up costs (after CAD software investments) as the reason so many Landscape Architects are doing their own thing. However, because they work for themselves or small companies, many Landscape Architects receive smaller benefits packages than professionals working with large companies. In 2000, annual earnings for Landscape Architects were between $26,300 to $74,100. The middle 50% earned between $32,990 and $59,490, and the median income was $43,540. In fact, more Landscape Architects worked for landscape and horticultural services than any other industry, making a median annual earning of $37,820. The average Federal Government salary in 2001 for landscape architects in non-supervisory and supervisory positions was 31% higher than the 2000 private median income. Federal Landscape Architects brought in about $62,824 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that Landscape Architect employment will increase faster than the average for all occupations straight through to 2010. The Bureau reports anticipated growth in residential, commercial and heavy construction, continued emphasis on preservation and restoration of wetlands, and growth in landscape ecology?EUR??,,????'???s focus on environmental issues as the reason for the proliferation in available jobs. Also responsible for many upcoming state and local government Landscape Architecture jobs is the implementation of the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century, or TEA-21. This act gives funds to transit surface and transportation programs, including highway maintenance, and the building and/or refurbishing of pedestrian and bike trails. Since tighter Federal Government budgets may cut off spending in the US Forest Service and the National Park Service, private agencies may be contracted for jobs that would usually be completed by government landscape architects. Landscape Architects must receive a Bachelors degree and, in 47 states, must work 1 to 4 years and pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) in order to practice. Although differing state requirements may cause difficulty in the transfer of certification from one state to another, national standards, which include graduating from an accredited program, 3 years of internship under a registered landscape architect, and passing the LARE can satisfy most state requirements and gain the right to work (reciprocity) from the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards. As of 2000, those wishing to become landscape architects have their choice of 75 accredited undergraduate and graduate programs offered by 58 colleges. In 2002, 2933 candidates took the LARE, including those retaking the test. They have entered a growing and lucrative industry that is expected to grow for years to come.