What award covers landscape architects?

Landscape architects are typically covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020 if they meet the classification definitions for a professional engineer or scientist, or they may be award-free if they are managers or professionals not covered by any award. The Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101) covers landscaping workers, not professional landscape architects. Always check the award coverage with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

How does the median landscape architect salary compare to the minimum?

According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time hourly earnings for Architects and Landscape Architects is $61, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. The median weekly full-time earnings are $2,308. These figures include landscape architects but exclude managers and part-time workers.

Landscape architect salary: minimum rates, median earnings and award coverage

Q: Is superannuation included in the landscape architect salary figures?

No. The median earnings from the ABS and the national minimum wage are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). For a landscape architect earning the median hourly rate of $61, the employer would contribute an additional $7.32 per hour to super.

The legal minimum for a landscape architect is the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour unless a modern award or enterprise agreement sets a higher rate; the median full-time hourly rate is $61.

Understanding the landscape architect salary in Australia

When you search for a landscape architect salary, you are likely looking for two things: the legal minimum you must be paid, and what the typical market rate is. This guide separates those figures using the most recent public Australian data from the Fair Work Commission, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), and Jobs and Skills Australia.

The legal minimum for landscape architects

The national minimum wage, set by the Fair Work Commission, is the safety net for all employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. Casual employees get a 25% loading, making the minimum casual rate $33.05 per hour.

However, most landscape architects are likely covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020 if they work in professional, scientific and technical services or construction. That award sets minimum rates higher than the national minimum for qualified professionals. If you are unsure which award applies, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or check the award coverage on Which minimum wage applies page.

If no award applies and no enterprise agreement is in place, the national minimum wage is the floor. Remember that junior employees, apprentices, and trainees can be paid less under specific rules – see our Rate tables for details.

Survey median: what landscape architects actually earn

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) provides the most reliable snapshot of actual earnings. For the occupation group Architects and Landscape Architects (ANZSCO 2321), the median full‑time weekly earnings are $2,308 and the median hourly earnings are $61. These figures are for full‑time non‑managerial adult employees – they exclude part‑time workers and managers, giving a clearer picture of typical pay.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that 78% of architects and landscape architects work full‑time, with average full‑time hours of 44 per week. The median age is 41, and 37% of the workforce is female.

Award rates vs survey averages vs negotiated salaries

It is important to distinguish between three types of pay:

Legal minimum: The national minimum wage or the lowest classification in a modern award. This is the least you can legally be paid.
Award rate: A specific minimum for your classification under a modern award. For landscape architects covered by the Professional Employees Award, the minimum is higher than the national minimum.
Survey median: The middle point of what people actually earn. This is not a legal requirement but a market benchmark.
Negotiated salary: What you and your employer agree on, which can be above the award or minimum.

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). So if your base salary is $61 per hour, the employer must contribute an additional $7.32 per hour to your super fund.

How to check your own rate

If you have an hourly or annual rate, compare it to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. If you are covered by an award, look up the correct classification in that award – the award rate will be higher. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can calculate your minimum entitlements.

For a quick reference, see our Guides on award coverage and minimum rates.

What about the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award?

The Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101) covers employees in landscaping services, such as gardeners and landscape tradespersons. It does not cover professional landscape architects who design landscapes – those roles fall under the Professional Employees Award or are award‑free. The award rates in that document (e.g., Level 5 adult rate $30.38 per hour) apply to landscaping workers, not to landscape architects.

Key takeaways

The legal minimum for a landscape architect is the national minimum wage of $26.44/h unless a higher award or agreement applies.
The median full‑time hourly rate is $61, according to the ABS.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings.
Always check your award coverage with the Fair Work Ombudsman – do not rely solely on this guide.

For more detail on how these figures are calculated, visit How the figures work.