Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving San Francisco.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Francisco earn a $48,040 median, 23% above the national figure, and about 12,270 of them work in the metro. BLS counts 1,164 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 Francisco.
BLS counts about 20,110 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the San Francisco metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 12,270). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.84). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
San Francisco: 12,270 employed · $48,040 median, 4th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
San Francisco: 610 employed · $119,730 median, 2nd-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
San Francisco: 5,660 employed · $77,880 median, 16th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
San Francisco: 1,570 employed · $76,990 median, highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
San Francisco: 5,160 employed · $166,030 median, highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
San Francisco: 3,300 employed · $101,630 median, 2nd-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in San Francisco.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Francisco earn a median $48,040, 23% over the $39,150 national figure, and 4th of 112 metros. Pay runs $40,260 at the tenth percentile to $77,750 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is landscape architects, at $119,730 against $79,870 nationally.
| Role | San Francisco 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) | $48,040 | $40,260–$77,750 | $39,150 | +23% | 12,270 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $119,730 | $71,970–$230,340 | $79,870 | +50% | 610 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $77,880 | $48,540–$155,330 | $63,800 | +22% | 5,660 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $76,990 | $50,790–$109,910 | $58,430 | +32% | 1,570 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $166,030 | $100,910–$225,120 | $114,990 | +44% | 5,160 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $101,630 | $58,910–$167,780 | $78,740 | +29% | 3,300 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, San Francisco 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 Francisco's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in San Francisco rose from 1,115 in 2018 to 1,164 in 2023, up 4%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Their combined payroll headcount barely moved, at about 11,723. Average annual pay there went from $47,658 to $59,388 (+25%), slower than the 31% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 1,115 | 1,164 | +4% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 11,542 | 11,723 | +2% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $47,658 | $59,388 | +25% |
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 Francisco runs 16% fewer commercial irrigation workers per job than the country as a whole — below the national concentration. Fewer per job 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 San Francisco's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, San Francisco ranks 14th for headcount, 4th for median pay and 83rd for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Pay here is among the highest we see, so offers need to start near the top of the range.
| 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 Francisco, the headline number is misleading. About 12,270 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work here, one of the larger workforces we cover, but relative to the size of the local economy the trade is thinner than average, so every other employer is drawing on the same people. Local employers have been shedding headcount, so the experienced people who remain are usually well placed and slow to move. Expect to recruit people who are already employed, and to make the case for moving.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, San Francisco 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 Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in San Francisco without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
We have not closed a commercial irrigation search in San Francisco yet. Here is what we have closed.
These are other trades in the same market. We would rather show you the searches we have actually run in San Francisco than imply a record in this trade that we do not have yet.
- Roofing ShinglerThree weeks to add a safety-conscious shingler to a crew the client keeps building year-round.
- Roofing Project ManagerTwo decades of superintendent and project management experience against a five-year bar - placed in days.
- Commercial Construction ForemanFifteen years of construction with foreman-level crew leadership on both commercial and residential builds.
Nearby markets competing for San Francisco talent.
The closest metro we cover is San Jose, about 40 miles away, with roughly 6,000 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (0.5 times San Francisco's 12,270). Pay is close across the region: medians run from $40,710 in Fresno to $48,330 in San Jose, against $48,040 here. San Francisco is the largest market for this work in the region, so nearby metros tend to recruit from here rather than the other way round.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | – | 12,270 | $48,040 |
| San Jose | 42 mi | 6,000 | $48,330 |
| Stockton | 63 mi | 1,390 | $44,280 |
| Sacramento | 75 mi | 7,410 | $45,110 |
| Modesto | 78 mi | 1,080 | $45,740 |
| Fresno | 162 mi | 3,040 | $40,710 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for San Francisco crews.
Not commercial irrigation work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into San Francisco in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Transbay district high-rise towers (downtown SF)Real trend, no verified regional totalRolling
Salesforce Tower district build-out continues with adjacent office + residential towers. Seismic-rated high-rise structural + MEP at the highest wage scale in the country.
- Tech campus build-outs & tenant improvements (SF / Silicon Valley edge)Real trend, no verified regional totalRolling
Corporate HQ campuses and downtown TI fit-outs. Fast timelines, high-spec finishes, and the region's high prevailing wage scale drive crew premiums on interiors trades.
- UCSF / Kaiser / Sutter hospital expansionsReal trend, no verified regional totalRolling
OSHPD/HCAI-compliant healthcare construction. Seismic retrofit deadlines drive urgent demand for healthcare mechanical PMs and hospital-experienced trades.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The San Francisco market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial irrigation, and what kills offers in San Francisco.
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 Francisco.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in San Francisco?
BLS puts the San Francisco median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $48,040 a year, 23% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 4th of 112 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Most of the market sits between $40,260 and $77,750, a 1.9x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. No other California metro we cover pays more for this work.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Francisco?
Yes. San Francisco has 16% fewer landscaping and groundskeeping workers per job than the country as a whole, roughly 12,270 in the metro, so most of the people worth hiring are already employed. The 1,164 landscaping companies here average about 10 employees per location.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in San Francisco?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in San Francisco, a $166,030 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $119,730, 28% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $48,040. Relative to national pay, Irrigation System Designer is the strongest-paying role here (50% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in San Francisco?
BLS counted 1,164 landscaping companies in San Francisco in 2023, employing about 11,723 people between them. Up from 1,115 in 2018, a 4% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 10 people per location. They pay an average of $59,388, 23% above the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with San Francisco for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are San Jose (42 miles, about 6,000, $48,330 median), Stockton (63 miles, about 1,390, $44,280 median) and Sacramento (75 miles, about 7,410, $45,110 median). San Francisco out-pays Stockton and Sacramento, an advantage when recruiting from there.
Deep pool. Heavily fished.
San Francisco has 12,270 landscaping and groundskeeping workers, 14th of the 112 metros we cover, and still 16% fewer per job than the country. The pool is deep and every employer here is fishing it. Let's get to the ones worth moving first.
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