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Landscape Architects Salary in Virginia: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Landscape Architects salary really buy you in Virginia?

Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$81,380
Median annual (2025)
-2.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$79,706
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.1)

Virginia Cost of Living Index

Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Landscape Architects earning $81,380 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $79,706 in an average-cost US state.

VA: 102.1
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $47,690 $46,709 $-980
25th Percentile (P25) $67,900 $66,503 $-1,396
Median (P50) $81,380 $79,706 $-1,673
75th Percentile (P75) $100,270 $98,207 $-2,062
90th Percentile (P90) $147,740 $144,701 $-3,038
Key Insight

Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $81,380 keeps most of its value at $79,706 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Virginia Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.1

With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Landscape Architects is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.1%

After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $81,380 nominal nets out to $79,706 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Landscape Architects.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#22 / 41

Virginia's rank of #22 of 41 states means real purchasing power for Landscape Architects trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Landscape Architects (After Cost of Living)

Where does Landscape Architects salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alabama
$115,284
RPP 87.8
$103,758
RPP 91.8
3. Utah
$99,925
RPP 94.5
4. Iowa
$98,721
RPP 88.4
5. Texas
$91,507
RPP 97.5
6. Montana
$90,066
RPP 90.3
$88,556
RPP 94.2
$88,457
RPP 105.0
9. Nevada
$88,319
RPP 96.4
$87,448
RPP 112.5

Virginia ranks #22 out of 41 states for Landscape Architects after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Landscape Architects take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Landscape Architects in Virginia after cost of living?

A Landscape Architects in Virginia earns a median salary of $81,380 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $79,706 — a -2.1% difference.

Is Virginia expensive to live in?

Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Landscape Architects in Virginia: $81,380 x (100 / 102.1) = $79,706. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Virginia offset the salary?

Partially — a Landscape Architects's nominal salary of $81,380 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $79,706. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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