Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Sacramento.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Sacramento earn a $45,110 median, 15% above the national figure, and about 7,410 of them work in the metro. BLS counts 766 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 Sacramento.
BLS counts about 11,830 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Sacramento metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 7,410). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are more concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 1.12). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Sacramento: 7,410 employed · $45,110 median, 19th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Sacramento: 150 employed · $106,030 median, 4th-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Sacramento: 3,120 employed · $65,210 median, 37th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Sacramento: 1,150 employed · $73,670 median, 5th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Sacramento: 2,760 employed · $129,440 median, 16th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Sacramento: 1,930 employed · $83,190 median, 17th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Sacramento.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Sacramento earn a median $45,110, 15% over the $39,150 national figure, and 19th of 112 metros. Pay runs $37,370 at the tenth percentile to $63,180 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is landscape architects, at $106,030 against $79,870 nationally.
| Role | Sacramento 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) | $45,110 | $37,370–$63,180 | $39,150 | +15% | 7,410 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $106,030 | $59,480–$163,890 | $79,870 | +33% | 150 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $65,210 | $46,620–$131,100 | $63,800 | +2% | 3,120 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $73,670 | $44,340–$99,230 | $58,430 | +26% | 1,150 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $129,440 | $79,330–$198,680 | $114,990 | +13% | 2,760 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $83,190 | $53,410–$155,140 | $78,740 | +6% | 1,930 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Sacramento 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 Sacramento's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Sacramento rose from 683 in 2018 to 766 in 2023, up 12%, close to the 13% national change. Headcount at those firms went up 24%, to about 8,283 people. Average annual pay there went from $40,696 to $56,694 (+39%), faster than the 31% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 683 | 766 | +12% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 6,673 | 8,283 | +24% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $40,696 | $56,694 | +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
Sacramento runs 12% more commercial irrigation workers per job than the country as a whole — above the national concentration. More per job means more people to reach, and more employers reaching 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 Sacramento's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Sacramento ranks 25th for headcount, 17th for median pay and 30th 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 Sacramento, the pool is deep but local employers have been cutting headcount. Experienced people are here, and some will be open to a move, so a clear offer and a defined path up usually beat a higher posted rate.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Sacramento 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, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in Sacramento without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Sacramento talent.
The closest metro we cover is Stockton, about 45 miles away, with roughly 1,390 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (0.2 times Sacramento's 7,410). San Jose pays the most nearby, a $48,330 median, 7% above Sacramento. That is the number any Sacramento 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | – | 7,410 | $45,110 |
| Stockton | 44 mi | 1,390 | $44,280 |
| Modesto | 71 mi | 1,080 | $45,740 |
| San Francisco | 75 mi | 12,270 | $48,040 |
| San Jose | 89 mi | 6,000 | $48,330 |
| Reno | 111 mi | 2,090 | $45,020 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Sacramento crews.
Not commercial irrigation work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Sacramento in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Aggie Square innovation district$1.1BFirst buildings opened 2025; phased build-out continues
Over a million square feet of research labs, classrooms, startup space, and housing in Oak Park. Lab construction drives high-purity piping, specialty exhaust, and controls work uncommon elsewhere in the metro.
- UC Davis Health Vision 2030 campus programCampus grows 3.6M to 7M+ sq ftThrough 2030
Described as the largest health system capital expansion in the United States. Doubling a hospital campus in under eight years means sustained, predictable demand across every mechanical and electrical discipline - rare in a market this size.
- Regional logistics and industrial developmentRolling private investment2025-2029
Sacramento's land and power cost advantage over the Bay Area continues to pull distribution and light industrial development into the corridor. Steady tilt-up, electrical distribution, and sitework demand.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The Sacramento market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial irrigation, and what kills offers in Sacramento.
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 Sacramento.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Sacramento?
BLS puts the Sacramento median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $45,110 a year, 15% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 19th of 112 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Most of the market sits between $37,370 and $63,180, a 1.7x gap and 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 Sacramento?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Sacramento as they are nationally (location quotient 1.12), with about 7,410 in the metro. The 766 landscaping companies here average about 11 employees per location. With 12% more of those firms than in 2018, more employers are competing for the same crews.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Sacramento?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Sacramento, a $129,440 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $106,030, 18% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $45,110. Relative to national pay, Irrigation System Designer is the strongest-paying role here (33% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in Sacramento?
BLS counted 766 landscaping companies in Sacramento in 2023, employing about 8,283 people between them. Up from 683 in 2018, a 12% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 11 people per location. They pay an average of $56,694, 17% above the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Sacramento for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Stockton (44 miles, about 1,390, $44,280 median), Modesto (71 miles, about 1,080, $45,740 median) and San Francisco (75 miles, about 12,270, $48,040 median). San Francisco has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. San Francisco pays 6% more, which is where Sacramento employers tend to lose people.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
766 landscaping companies in Sacramento are drawing on the same 7,410 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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