Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Allentown-Bethlehem.
About 2,310 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work in the Allentown-Bethlehem metro, at a $39,350 median. BLS counts 361 business locations of landscaping companies across the metro. Below: local pay for every role we staff, the state licensing rules that apply and the nearby markets competing for the same people.
Positions we recruit for in Allentown-Bethlehem.
BLS counts about 3,460 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Allentown-Bethlehem metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 2,310). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are about as concentrated here as nationally (location quotient 1.00). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Allentown-Bethlehem: 2,310 employed · $39,350 median, 43rd-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Allentown-Bethlehem: 50 employed · $77,270 median, 51st-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Allentown-Bethlehem: 730 employed · $64,940 median, 39th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Allentown-Bethlehem: 370 employed · $59,590 median, 39th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Allentown-Bethlehem: 360 employed · $112,900 median, 49th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Allentown-Bethlehem: 540 employed · $76,810 median, 68th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Allentown-Bethlehem.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Allentown-Bethlehem earn a median $39,350, level with the $39,150 national figure, and 43rd of 112 metros. Pay runs $30,900 at the tenth percentile to $57,800 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is landscape architects, at $77,270 against $79,870 nationally.
| Role | Allentown-Bethlehem median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigation Technician / Installer · Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) · Irrigation Service / Repair TechnicianLandscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (37-3011) | $39,350 | $30,900–$57,800 | $39,150 | +1% | 2,310 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $77,270 | $59,170–$124,860 | $79,870 | −3% | 50 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $64,940 | $46,460–$138,040 | $63,800 | +2% | 730 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $59,590 | $46,990–$77,310 | $58,430 | +2% | 370 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $112,900 | $80,630–$191,870 | $114,990 | −2% | 360 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $76,810 | $51,210–$126,660 | $78,740 | −2% | 540 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Allentown-Bethlehem metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide. A metro ranking counts only the metros where BLS publishes that occupation.
How Allentown-Bethlehem's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Allentown-Bethlehem rose from 354 in 2018 to 361 in 2023, up 2%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 7%, to about 2,097 people. Average annual pay there went from $43,290 to $48,118 (+11%), slower than the 31% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 354 | 361 | +2% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 1,956 | 2,097 | +7% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $43,290 | $48,118 | +11% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Free Commercial Irrigation hiring resources.
Definitive Guide to Commercial Irrigation · 2026 Commercial Irrigation Salary Guide · 3-Step Interview Guide for Commercial Irrigation
Allentown-Bethlehem sits at about the national rate for commercial irrigation — neither unusually deep nor unusually thin.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (nearest published occupation for this trade). Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Allentown-Bethlehem's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Allentown-Bethlehem ranks 69th for headcount, 39th for median pay and 47th for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 17,700 | $42,130 | 1.00 | 2,600 |
| Pittsburgh | 6,650 | $37,690 | 0.97 | 964 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem | 2,310 | $39,350 | 1.00 | 361 |
| Lancaster | 1,650 | $39,140 | 1.07 | 234 |
| Harrisburg | 1,630 | $38,700 | 0.79 | 195 |
| Scranton | 1,330 | $37,330 | 0.85 | 205 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial irrigation employers in Allentown-Bethlehem, the pool is about the national norm for its size, and local employers have trimmed headcount. That usually means experienced people are available but cautious, so the stability of the job matters as much as the rate.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Allentown-Bethlehem metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Irrigation licensing in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania does not license or certify most construction contractors at state level, and there is no irrigation, landscape or general contractor license. The Department of Labor and Industry states plainly that the Commonwealth has no licensure or certification requirement for most construction contractors or their employees, and that individual municipalities set their own requirements, most often for home improvement, electrical and plumbing contractors. The only statewide registration that touches this work is Home Improvement Contractor registration with the Attorney General, which applies to residential jobs rather than commercial ones. For backflow, 25 Pa. Code 109.709 requires public water suppliers to operate cross-connection control programs, so the tester credential a crew needs is whatever the water authority serving the job accepts. The same state rules apply in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Scranton, so candidates licensed there can work in Allentown-Bethlehem without re-qualifying. The Allentown-Bethlehem metro crosses a state line, so check the rules in the neighboring state too for crews that work on both sides.
Licensing authority: No state license; the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry confirms there is no state contractor licensure and leaves trade licensing to municipalities. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Allentown-Bethlehem talent.
The closest metro we cover is Philadelphia, about 50 miles away, with roughly 17,700 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (7.7 times Allentown-Bethlehem's 2,310). New York pays the most nearby, a $45,530 median, 16% above Allentown-Bethlehem. That is the number any Allentown-Bethlehem offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. New York has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem | – | 2,310 | $39,350 |
| Philadelphia | 48 mi | 17,700 | $42,130 |
| Scranton | 56 mi | 1,330 | $37,330 |
| Lancaster | 58 mi | 1,650 | $39,140 |
| Harrisburg | 77 mi | 1,630 | $38,700 |
| New York | 78 mi | 50,410 | $45,530 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Allentown-Bethlehem crews.
Not commercial irrigation work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Allentown-Bethlehem in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- PA SITES brownfield redevelopment (Bethlehem Steel)$500M statewide program (~$400M to PA SITES)Signed into law; rollout underway
Governor Shapiro signed the program into law at the former Bethlehem Steel campus, funding remediation to turn old industrial sites into shovel-ready properties for new business - a direct, symbolic anchor in this metro.
- LVHN neighborhood hospitals (Hellertown + Tannersville)UndisclosedHellertown underway; Tannersville opening winter 2026
A three-story, 90,000 sq ft neighborhood hospital in Hellertown and a new health care campus in Tannersville near I-80 - Lehigh Valley Health Network's fourth and fifth such facilities.
- Allentown capital bond programUp to $134M~$41M sold in each of three tranches, 2026-28
Funding a new fire station and police headquarters, among other municipal capital projects.
Showing 3 of 4 projects tracked in this metro. The Allentown-Bethlehem market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial irrigation, and what kills offers in Allentown-Bethlehem.
The 4 credentials that gate the work and the 4 things that most often end a commercial irrigation offer are the same in every market, kept in one place: Commercial Irrigation credentials and offer risks, each linked to the body that issues it. What is local is the licensing rule above and the pay further up this page.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in Allentown-Bethlehem.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS puts the Allentown-Bethlehem median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $39,350 a year, about the same as the $39,150 national median. That ranks 43rd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $30,900 and $57,800, a 1.9x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. Within Pennsylvania, Philadelphia pays more, at $42,130.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Allentown-Bethlehem?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Allentown-Bethlehem as they are nationally (location quotient 1.00), with about 2,310 in the metro. The 361 landscaping companies here average about 5.8 employees per location, mostly small shops, so candidates often know every employer in town by name.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Allentown-Bethlehem?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Allentown-Bethlehem, a $112,900 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $77,270, 32% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $39,350. Irrigation System Designer trails national pay the most (3% below).
How many landscaping companies operate in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS counted 361 landscaping companies in Allentown-Bethlehem in 2023, employing about 2,097 people between them. That is roughly where the count stood in 2018 (354). That averages 5.8 people per location, so most are small shops. They pay about the national average of $48,279. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Allentown-Bethlehem for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Philadelphia (48 miles, about 17,700, $42,130 median), Scranton (56 miles, about 1,330, $37,330 median) and Lancaster (58 miles, about 1,650, $39,140 median). Philadelphia has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. Philadelphia pays 7% more, which is where Allentown-Bethlehem employers tend to lose people.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
361 landscaping companies in Allentown-Bethlehem are drawing on the same 2,310 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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