Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving San Diego.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Diego earn a $45,560 median, 16% above the national figure, and about 10,870 of them work in the metro. BLS counts 966 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 San Diego.
BLS counts about 17,670 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the San Diego metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 10,870). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are more concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 1.15). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
San Diego: 10,870 employed · $45,560 median, 14th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
San Diego: 210 employed · $83,190 median, 27th-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
San Diego: 5,100 employed · $72,510 median, 30th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
San Diego: 1,490 employed · $63,740 median, 14th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
San Diego: 3,800 employed · $133,210 median, 9th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
San Diego: 2,740 employed · $87,170 median, 11th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in San Diego.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Diego earn a median $45,560, 16% over the $39,150 national figure, and 14th of 112 metros. Pay runs $37,250 at the tenth percentile to $58,360 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is landscape architects, at $83,190 against $79,870 nationally.
| Role | San Diego 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) | $45,560 | $37,250–$58,360 | $39,150 | +16% | 10,870 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $83,190 | $40,770–$141,560 | $79,870 | +4% | 210 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $72,510 | $46,030–$127,790 | $63,800 | +14% | 5,100 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $63,740 | $44,470–$98,490 | $58,430 | +9% | 1,490 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $133,210 | $82,290–$208,350 | $114,990 | +16% | 3,800 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $87,170 | $55,610–$151,140 | $78,740 | +11% | 2,740 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, San Diego 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 San Diego's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in San Diego rose from 894 in 2018 to 966 in 2023, up 8%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 4%, to about 10,899 people. Average annual pay there went from $36,365 to $49,160 (+35%), faster than the 31% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 894 | 966 | +8% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 10,488 | 10,899 | +4% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $36,365 | $49,160 | +35% |
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
San Diego runs 15% 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 San Diego's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, San Diego ranks 19th for headcount, 12th for median pay and 27th 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 San Diego, the pool is deep and still growing, so the constraint is competition rather than supply. Move fast on good candidates, because another local firm is probably talking to them too.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, San Diego 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, Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in San Diego without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for San Diego talent.
The closest metro we cover is Riverside, about 85 miles away, with roughly 13,190 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (1.2 times San Diego's 10,870). San Diego pays more than every metro we cover within reach ($45,560 median), which helps when recruiting people in from Las Vegas at $37,920. Los Angeles has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | – | 10,870 | $45,560 |
| Riverside | 87 mi | 13,190 | $43,650 |
| Los Angeles | 111 mi | 27,860 | $44,650 |
| Bakersfield | 212 mi | 1,630 | $43,770 |
| Las Vegas | 265 mi | 7,220 | $37,920 |
| Phoenix | 299 mi | 16,850 | $39,140 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for San Diego crews.
Not commercial irrigation work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into San Diego in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- UC San Diego campus + research expansion$2.5B+ programPhased through 2030
Ongoing university build-out - research labs, medical, student housing. High-spec lab/cleanroom MEP and institutional construction pipeline.
- Naval Base San Diego waterfront + shipyard modernization$3B+ regionalRolling
Navy/defense facility and shipyard work is the anchor of the San Diego market. Secure-facility MEP, marine/waterfront trades, and cleared crews in sustained demand.
- Research Center at Torrey Pines biotech campuses$1B+ rollingOngoing
New life-sciences campus construction and lab conversions. Long-duration demand for cleanroom-experienced MEP and controls specialists.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The San Diego market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial irrigation, and what kills offers in San Diego.
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 San Diego.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in San Diego?
BLS puts the San Diego median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $45,560 a year, 16% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 14th of 112 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Pay is bunched together here, $37,250 to $58,360 across the 10th to 90th percentile and only a 1.6x gap, so small differences in an offer are noticed. Within California, San Jose pays more, at $48,330.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Diego?
Not by national standards. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers make up 15% more of the San Diego workforce than they do nationally, about 10,870 people. The 966 landscaping companies here average about 11 employees per location.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in San Diego?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in San Diego, a $133,210 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $83,190, 38% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $45,560. Relative to national pay, Irrigation Technician / Installer is the strongest-paying role here (16% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in San Diego?
BLS counted 966 landscaping companies in San Diego in 2023, employing about 10,899 people between them. Up from 894 in 2018, an 8% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 11 people per location. They pay about the national average of $48,279. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with San Diego for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Riverside (87 miles, about 13,190, $43,650 median), Los Angeles (111 miles, about 27,860, $44,650 median) and Bakersfield (212 miles, about 1,630, $43,770 median). Los Angeles has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move.
Plenty of people. Few of them looking.
San Diego has one of the deeper pools of landscaping and groundskeeping workers we cover, but the best of them are already working. Let's find the ones ready to move.
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