Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Cincinnati.
About 6,610 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work in the Cincinnati metro, at a $38,600 median. BLS counts 814 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 Cincinnati.
BLS counts about 11,140 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Cincinnati metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 6,610). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are about as concentrated here as nationally (location quotient 0.98). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Cincinnati: 6,610 employed · $38,600 median, 53rd-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Cincinnati: 110 employed · $67,990 median, 67th-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Cincinnati: 3,640 employed · $65,160 median, 38th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Cincinnati: 780 employed · $56,850 median, 64th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Cincinnati: 3,050 employed · $104,710 median, 76th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Cincinnati: 1,630 employed · $79,130 median, 44th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Cincinnati.
In the Cincinnati metro, the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is $38,600 a year, in line with the $39,150 national median. Most earn between $29,890 and $48,400. Of the other roles listed, landscape architects earn the most locally, at a $67,990 median.
| Role | Cincinnati 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) | $38,600 | $29,890–$48,400 | $39,150 | −1% | 6,610 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $67,990 | $52,660–$122,000 | $79,870 | −15% | 110 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $65,160 | $46,830–$101,800 | $63,800 | +2% | 3,640 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $56,850 | $44,950–$78,110 | $58,430 | −3% | 780 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $104,710 | $68,940–$164,310 | $114,990 | −9% | 3,050 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $79,130 | $50,800–$126,230 | $78,740 | 0% | 1,630 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Cincinnati metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide.
How Cincinnati's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Cincinnati rose from 773 in 2018 to 814 in 2023, up 5%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 14%, to about 6,069 people. Average annual pay there went from $33,651 to $46,633 (+39%), faster than the 31% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 773 | 814 | +5% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 5,308 | 6,069 | +14% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $33,651 | $46,633 | +39% |
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
Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Cincinnati ranks 33rd for headcount, 49th for median pay and 53rd for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 6,910 | $38,230 | 1.09 | 1,028 |
| Columbus | 6,820 | $39,100 | 1.01 | 636 |
| Cincinnati | 6,610 | $38,600 | 0.98 | 814 |
| Akron | 2,250 | $37,610 | 1.15 | 323 |
| Dayton | 2,080 | $37,880 | 0.91 | 269 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial irrigation employers in Cincinnati, the pool is about the national norm for its size and local employers are adding people, so expect competing offers on experienced candidates and keep the process short.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Cincinnati metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Irrigation licensing in Ohio.
Ohio certifies backflow technicians in three classes. Class B covers backflow devices on lawn irrigation systems, and certification requires training, experience and a state exam. The same state rules apply in Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Akron, so candidates licensed there can work in Cincinnati without re-qualifying. The Cincinnati metro crosses a state line, so check the rules in the neighboring state too for crews that work on both sides.
Licensing authority: Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Cincinnati talent.
The closest metro we cover is Dayton, about 45 miles away, with roughly 2,080 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (0.3 times Cincinnati's 6,610). Pay is close across the region: medians run from $37,610 in Akron to $39,100 in Columbus, against $38,600 here.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | – | 6,610 | $38,600 |
| Dayton | 47 mi | 2,080 | $37,880 |
| Louisville | 90 mi | 3,130 | $37,820 |
| Indianapolis | 98 mi | 6,980 | $38,180 |
| Columbus | 99 mi | 6,820 | $39,100 |
| Akron | 208 mi | 2,250 | $37,610 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in Cincinnati.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Cincinnati?
BLS puts the Cincinnati median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $38,600 a year, about the same as the $39,150 national median. That ranks 53rd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $29,890 and $48,400, a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. No other Ohio metro we cover pays more for this work.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Cincinnati?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Cincinnati as they are nationally (location quotient 0.98), with about 6,610 in the metro. The 814 landscaping companies here average about 7.5 employees per location, mostly small shops, so candidates often know every employer in town by name.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Cincinnati?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Cincinnati, a $104,710 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $67,990, 35% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $38,600. Irrigation System Designer trails national pay the most (15% below).
How many landscaping companies operate in Cincinnati?
BLS counted 814 landscaping companies in Cincinnati in 2023, employing about 6,069 people between them. Up from 773 in 2018, a 5% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 7.5 people per location, so most are small shops. They pay an average of $46,633, 3% below the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Cincinnati for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Dayton (47 miles, about 2,080, $37,880 median), Louisville (90 miles, about 3,130, $37,820 median) and Indianapolis (98 miles, about 6,980, $38,180 median).
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
814 landscaping companies in Cincinnati are drawing on the same 6,610 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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