Updated March 2026
Overview
Utah Landscape Architecture Intelligence
Competitive benchmarks for hiring, compensation, and market positioning in the Utah LA industry.
Utah LA Firms Identified
36+
24 primary + 12 additional firms
Avg LA Salary (Utah)
$75K–$89K
$75,677–$88,542/yr depending on source
Intern Pay Range
$20–$27/hr
Across all Utah sources
Intern Sweet Spot
$22–$23/hr
SLC average, competitive positioning
Compensation Analysis
Intern Pay Deep Dive
The most actionable data for your next hire — benchmarks, tiers, and firm-specific intelligence.
Utah Intern Pay Benchmarks
Average hourly rates by source
Sources: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Zippia (2025–2026 data)
Regional Comparison
Utah vs. neighboring states & national average
Source: ZipRecruiter state-level data (2025–2026)
Intern Pay Tiers
Market positioning guide for setting intern compensation
| Pay Rate | Tier | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Below $18/hr | Below Market | Below market — will struggle to attract quality candidates |
| $18–$20/hr | Low End | Acceptable for a first internship or small firm with strong mentorship |
| $20–$22/hr | Utah Average | Utah market average — solid, no complaints |
| $22–$25/hr | Competitive | Above Utah average, at national average — competitive |
| $25–$28/hr | High | High for Utah, typical of large national firms |
| Above $28/hr | Premium | Premium tier — unusual, reserved for top programs |
Firm-Specific Intern Data
Known compensation details from Utah firms
| Firm | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MHTN Architects | $24.27/hr | 20–29 hrs/week, no benefits |
| VCBO Architecture | Undisclosed + $1,500 bonus | 32 hrs/week, full benefits, 12-week rotation |
| Sunshine Terrace (Logan) | $17.76–$18.23/hr | Full-time, non-benefited |
| Kimley-Horn (Lehi) | ~$27/hr est. | Full benefits, 401k — national firm |
| LDS Church (SLC) | ~$23.15/hr avg | Full-time, full benefits |
| J-U-B Engineers | $20–$27/hr | DOE, year in school |
| GSBS Architects | ~$25–$27/hr est. | Zippia estimate |
Sources: Glassdoor, Indeed job listings, firm career pages, Zippia estimates (2025–2026)
Bottom Line — Intern Compensation
Offering $20/hr = mid-market Utah. $22–$23/hr = competitive in SLC, at or above state average. $25/hr = top-of-market for Utah, a genuine recruiting differentiator that signals you're serious about talent development.
Career Progression
Salary Ladder — All Roles
Utah landscape architecture compensation ranges by experience level.
Compensation Ranges by Role
Low / Median / High ranges — Utah market (annualized for interns at 2,080 hrs)
Sources: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Zippia, Glassdoor, BLS OES data (2025–2026)
Salary Range Visualization
Low to high range for each role level
Market Landscape
Utah LA Firm Directory 24
All identified landscape architecture firms in the Utah market.
| Firm ▴▾ | City ▴▾ | Founded ▴▾ | Size ▴▾ | Type ▴▾ | Specialty |
|---|
Compiled from firm websites, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Utah DOPL records (2025–2026)
Firm Intel
Benefits & Policy Summary
What Utah LA firms typically offer — use this to benchmark your own benefits package.
Healthcare
Most firms offer health insurance. GSBS, FFKR, MHTN, VCBO, and Arch Nexus all confirmed. Typically employee + family options with employer contribution.
PTO / Vacation
2–3 weeks standard for new hires, increasing with tenure. Some firms offer flexible PTO policies. Holidays typically 8–10 per year.
401k / Retirement
Most firms match 3–4% of salary. Kimley-Horn, VCBO, and GSBS confirmed matching programs. Some offer additional profit-sharing.
Remote / Hybrid
MHTN is the clearest hybrid model. GSBS and Arch Nexus lean in-person. Most firms expect primarily on-site presence, especially for project work.
Billable Hours
75–85% target utilization rate is standard. Industry median is 81.9%. Remaining time for admin, BD, and professional development.
Licensure Support
FFKR has the strongest program — "pay for pass" policy. MHTN covers exam fees. Most firms support ARE study time and reimburse registration costs.
Software Stack
AutoCAD is universal. Revit growing rapidly for BIM coordination. SketchUp + Lumion common for visualization. Adobe Creative Suite standard for graphics.
Sources: Glassdoor reviews, firm career pages, Indeed job listings (2025–2026)
Strategic Position
Loft Six Four — Competitive Position
Where L64 sits in the Utah LA market and how to leverage your niche.
Firm Size
2–10 Employees
Boutique scale — similar to VODA Landscape + Planning, Io LandArch, and Berg Landscape Architecture. Agile enough to pivot, small enough to differentiate on culture.
Specialty Niche
Rooftop & Hospitality Amenity
A unique position in Utah — most firms focus on municipal, commercial, or broad residential. This niche is underserved and defensible.
Luxury Residential Competitors
4 Primary Competitors
Landform Design Group, Bockholt Design, Berg Landscape Architecture, and Pendleton Design. None focus on rooftop/hospitality specifically.
Intern Strategy
$22–$23/hr Recommended
Competitive in SLC without overpaying. Pair with mentorship and real project exposure to create a compelling offer beyond just pay.
Strategic Advantage
L64's luxury residential and rooftop/hospitality focus is a genuine niche in Utah. Most LA firms compete on municipal parks and commercial projects. By offering $22–$23/hr with hands-on mentorship at a boutique firm, you can attract quality interns who want real project ownership — something they won't get at larger firms like MHTN or GSBS where they're one of many.