Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving San Jose.
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Jose earn a $48,330 median, 23% above the national figure, and about 6,000 of them work in the metro. BLS counts 519 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 Jose.
BLS counts about 10,730 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the San Jose metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 6,000). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.86). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
San Jose: 6,000 employed · $48,330 median, 3rd-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
San Jose: 70 employed · $119,910 median, highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
San Jose: 3,830 employed · $107,560 median, highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
San Jose: 830 employed · $69,590 median, 8th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
San Jose: 1,850 employed · $163,040 median, 2nd-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
San Jose: 1,680 employed · $97,580 median, 3rd-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in San Jose.
In the San Jose metro, the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is $48,330 a year, 23% above the $39,150 national median. Most earn between $42,350 and $73,980. Of the other roles listed, landscape architects earn the most locally, at a $119,910 median.
| Role | San Jose 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) | $48,330 | $42,350–$73,980 | $39,150 | +23% | 6,000 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $119,910 | $77,390–$167,250 | $79,870 | +50% | 70 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $107,560 | $63,270–$155,600 | $63,800 | +69% | 3,830 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $69,590 | $49,020–$105,660 | $58,430 | +19% | 830 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $163,040 | $97,900–$249,990 | $114,990 | +42% | 1,850 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $97,580 | $61,550–$170,550 | $78,740 | +24% | 1,680 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, San Jose metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide.
How San Jose's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in San Jose rose from 489 in 2018 to 519 in 2023, up 6%, behind the 13% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 25%, to about 6,381 people. Average annual pay there went from $44,818 to $57,909 (+29%), in step with the 31% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 489 | 519 | +6% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | 5,109 | 6,381 | +25% |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | $44,818 | $57,909 | +29% |
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 Jose runs 14% 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 San Jose's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, San Jose ranks 36th for headcount, 3rd for median pay and 80th 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 Jose, 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, San Jose 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, Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and Modesto, so candidates licensed there can work in San Jose without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: California State Water Resources Control Board. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for San Jose talent.
The closest metro we cover is San Francisco, about 40 miles away, with roughly 12,270 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (2.0 times San Jose's 6,000). San Jose pays more than every metro we cover within reach ($48,330 median), which helps when recruiting people in from Fresno at $40,710. San Francisco has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | – | 6,000 | $48,330 |
| San Francisco | 42 mi | 12,270 | $48,040 |
| Modesto | 53 mi | 1,080 | $45,740 |
| Stockton | 54 mi | 1,390 | $44,280 |
| Sacramento | 89 mi | 7,410 | $45,110 |
| Fresno | 124 mi | 3,040 | $40,710 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in San Jose.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in San Jose?
BLS puts the San Jose median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $48,330 a year, 23% above the $39,150 national median. That ranks 3rd of 112 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Experience carries a clear premium, $42,350 at the 10th percentile against $73,980 at the 90th, so an offer at the median mostly reaches newer workers. No other California metro we cover pays more for this work.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in San Jose?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in San Jose as they are nationally (location quotient 0.86), with about 6,000 in the metro. The 519 landscaping companies here average about 12 employees per location.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in San Jose?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in San Jose, a $163,040 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $119,910, 26% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $48,330. Relative to national pay, Backflow Prevention Specialist is the strongest-paying role here (69% above).
How many landscaping companies operate in San Jose?
BLS counted 519 landscaping companies in San Jose in 2023, employing about 6,381 people between them. Up from 489 in 2018, a 6% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 12 people per location. They pay an average of $57,909, 20% 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 Jose for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are San Francisco (42 miles, about 12,270, $48,040 median), Modesto (53 miles, about 1,080, $45,740 median) and Stockton (54 miles, about 1,390, $44,280 median). San Francisco has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. San Jose out-pays Modesto and Stockton, an advantage when recruiting from there.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
519 landscaping companies in San Jose are drawing on the same 6,000 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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