Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Modesto.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Modesto earn a $45,740 median, 17% above the national figure, and about 1,080 of them work in the metro. BLS counts 120 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 Modesto.
BLS counts about 1,650 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Modesto metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 1,080). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.90). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Modesto: 1,080 employed · $45,740 median, 13th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Modesto: BLS does not publish a local figure for this occupation.
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Modesto: 470 employed · $63,280 median, 51st-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Modesto: 100 employed · $63,070 median, 17th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Modesto: 380 employed · $125,800 median, 25th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Modesto: 290 employed · $81,330 median, 27th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Modesto.
In the Modesto metro, the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is $45,740 a year, 17% above the $39,150 national median. Most earn between $37,070 and $60,290. Of the other roles listed, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn the most locally, at a $63,280 median. BLS does not publish Modesto pay for one occupation below, usually because too few people hold the job locally.
| Role | Modesto 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) | $45,740 | $37,070–$60,290 | $39,150 | +17% | 1,080 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | – | – | $79,870 | – | – |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $63,280 | $47,260–$114,510 | $63,800 | −1% | 470 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $63,070 | $44,660–$101,150 | $58,430 | +8% | 100 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $125,800 | $82,760–$197,620 | $114,990 | +9% | 380 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $81,330 | $51,380–$139,990 | $78,740 | +3% | 290 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Modesto metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide.
How Modesto's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Modesto rose from 104 in 2018 to 120 in 2023, up 15%, close to the 13% national change. Headcount at those firms went up 12%, to about 794 people. Average annual pay there went from $39,067 to $53,288 (+36%), faster than the 31% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 104 | 120 | +15% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 710 | 794 | +12% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $39,067 | $53,288 | +36% |
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
Modesto runs 10% fewer commercial irrigation workers per job than the country as a whole — below the national concentration. A thinner local pool means the people you want are already working, and usually for someone who would rather keep them.
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 Modesto's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Modesto ranks 99th for headcount, 11th for median pay and 70th 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 Modesto, the local pool is thin but growing. Expect a mix of local candidates and people recruited in from nearby metros, and budget for relocation on senior roles.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Modesto 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, Fresno, Bakersfield and Stockton, so candidates licensed there can work in Modesto without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Modesto talent.
The closest metro we cover is Stockton, about 25 miles away, with roughly 1,390 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (1.3 times Modesto's 1,080). San Jose pays the most nearby, a $48,330 median, 6% above Modesto. That is the number any Modesto offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. San Francisco has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | – | 1,080 | $45,740 |
| Stockton | 27 mi | 1,390 | $44,280 |
| San Jose | 53 mi | 6,000 | $48,330 |
| Sacramento | 71 mi | 7,410 | $45,110 |
| San Francisco | 78 mi | 12,270 | $48,040 |
| Fresno | 91 mi | 3,040 | $40,710 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in Modesto.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Modesto?
BLS puts the Modesto median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $45,740 a year, 17% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 13th of 112 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Most of the market sits between $37,070 and $60,290, 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 Modesto?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Modesto as they are nationally (location quotient 0.90), with about 1,080 in the metro. The 120 landscaping companies here average about 6.6 employees per location, mostly small shops, so candidates often know every employer in town by name. With 15% more of those firms than in 2018, more employers are competing for the same crews.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Modesto?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Modesto, a $125,800 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Backflow Prevention Specialist at $63,280, 50% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $45,740. Relative to national pay, Irrigation Technician / Installer is the strongest-paying role here (17% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in Modesto?
BLS counted 120 landscaping companies in Modesto in 2023, employing about 794 people between them. Up from 104 in 2018, a 15% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 6.6 people per location, so most are small shops. They pay an average of $53,288, 10% above the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Modesto for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Stockton (27 miles, about 1,390, $44,280 median), San Jose (53 miles, about 6,000, $48,330 median) and Sacramento (71 miles, about 7,410, $45,110 median). San Jose has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. San Jose pays 6% more, which is where Modesto employers tend to lose people.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
120 landscaping companies in Modesto are drawing on the same 1,080 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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