Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Fresno.
About 3,040 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work in the Fresno metro, at a $40,710 median. BLS counts 211 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 Fresno.
BLS counts about 4,430 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Fresno metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 3,040). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are about as concentrated here as nationally (location quotient 1.04). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Fresno: 3,040 employed · $40,710 median, 38th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Fresno: 30 employed · $90,860 median, 16th-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Fresno: 970 employed · $64,400 median, 44th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Fresno: 390 employed · $58,800 median, 47th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Fresno: 910 employed · $118,500 median, 42nd-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Fresno: 750 employed · $84,140 median, 14th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Fresno.
In the Fresno metro, the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is $40,710 a year, 4% above the $39,150 national median. Most earn between $35,900 and $56,400. Of the other roles listed, landscape architects earn the most locally, at a $90,860 median.
| Role | Fresno 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) | $40,710 | $35,900–$56,400 | $39,150 | +4% | 3,040 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $90,860 | $69,690–$153,750 | $79,870 | +14% | 30 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $64,400 | $46,590–$124,280 | $63,800 | +1% | 970 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $58,800 | $39,700–$86,970 | $58,430 | +1% | 390 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $118,500 | $75,030–$176,020 | $114,990 | +3% | 910 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $84,140 | $51,170–$149,690 | $78,740 | +7% | 750 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Fresno metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide.
How Fresno's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Fresno rose from 192 in 2018 to 211 in 2023, up 10%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 28%, to about 2,078 people. Average annual pay there went from $32,440 to $42,635 (+31%), in step with the 31% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 192 | 211 | +10% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 1,624 | 2,078 | +28% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $32,440 | $42,635 | +31% |
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
Fresno 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 Fresno's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Fresno ranks 55th for headcount, 34th for median pay and 40th for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 27,860 | $44,650 | 0.73 | 2,053 |
| Riverside | 13,190 | $43,650 | 1.25 | 1,009 |
| San Francisco | 12,270 | $48,040 | 0.84 | 1,164 |
| San Diego | 10,870 | $45,560 | 1.15 | 966 |
| Sacramento | 7,410 | $45,110 | 1.12 | 766 |
| San Jose | 6,000 | $48,330 | 0.86 | 519 |
| Fresno | 3,040 | $40,710 | 1.04 | 211 |
| Bakersfield | 1,630 | $43,770 | 0.79 | 151 |
| Stockton | 1,390 | $44,280 | 0.78 | 168 |
| Modesto | 1,080 | $45,740 | 0.90 | 120 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial irrigation employers in Fresno, 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, Fresno metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Irrigation licensing in California.
Public water systems in California must use backflow assembly testers certified by recognized, accredited certifying organizations; the State Water Board does not issue the certification itself. From July 1, 2027, only organizations with ANSI accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 will qualify. The same state rules apply in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in Fresno without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Fresno talent.
The closest metro we cover is Modesto, about 90 miles away, with roughly 1,080 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (0.4 times Fresno's 3,040). San Jose pays the most nearby, a $48,330 median, 19% above Fresno. That is the number any Fresno offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Sacramento has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | – | 3,040 | $40,710 |
| Modesto | 91 mi | 1,080 | $45,740 |
| Bakersfield | 104 mi | 1,630 | $43,770 |
| Stockton | 118 mi | 1,390 | $44,280 |
| San Jose | 124 mi | 6,000 | $48,330 |
| Sacramento | 158 mi | 7,410 | $45,110 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in Fresno.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Fresno?
BLS puts the Fresno median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $40,710 a year, 4% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 38th of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $35,900 and $56,400, a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. Within California, San Jose pays more, at $48,330.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Fresno?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Fresno as they are nationally (location quotient 1.04), with about 3,040 in the metro. The 211 landscaping companies here average about 9.8 employees per location.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Fresno?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Fresno, a $118,500 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $90,860, 23% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $40,710. Relative to national pay, Irrigation System Designer is the strongest-paying role here (14% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in Fresno?
BLS counted 211 landscaping companies in Fresno in 2023, employing about 2,078 people between them. Up from 192 in 2018, a 10% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 9.8 people per location. They pay an average of $42,635, 12% below the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Fresno for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Modesto (91 miles, about 1,080, $45,740 median), Bakersfield (104 miles, about 1,630, $43,770 median) and Stockton (118 miles, about 1,390, $44,280 median). Modesto pays 12% more, which is where Fresno employers tend to lose people.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
211 landscaping companies in Fresno are drawing on the same 3,040 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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