Commercial Irrigation recruiters serving Syracuse.
About 1,670 landscaping and groundskeeping workers work in the Syracuse metro, at a $40,010 median. BLS counts 289 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 Syracuse.
BLS counts about 2,780 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Syracuse metro, the largest group being landscaping and groundskeeping workers (about 1,670). Relative to the size of the local economy, landscaping and groundskeeping workers are less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.91). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Irrigation hub.
Irrigation Technician / Installer
Syracuse: 1,670 employed · $40,010 median, 39th-highest of 112 metros
Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT)
Irrigation System Designer
Syracuse: 50 employed · $71,930 median, 63rd-highest of 78 metros
Backflow Prevention Specialist
Syracuse: 840 employed · $67,040 median, 35th-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Service / Repair Technician
Irrigation Foreman / Crew Lead
Syracuse: 220 employed · $60,450 median, 33rd-highest of 112 metros
Irrigation Project Manager
Syracuse: 320 employed · $132,760 median, 10th-highest of 111 metros
Irrigation Estimator
Syracuse: 420 employed · $77,970 median, 59th-highest of 111 metros
Smart / Controller Systems Technician
Landscape Water Management Auditor
What Commercial Irrigation roles earn in Syracuse.
In the Syracuse metro, the median wage for landscaping and groundskeeping workers is $40,010 a year, in line with the $39,150 national median. Most earn between $35,290 and $50,340. Of the other roles listed, landscape architects earn the most locally, at a $71,930 median.
| Role | Syracuse 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) | $40,010 | $35,290–$50,340 | $39,150 | +2% | 1,670 |
| Irrigation System DesignerLandscape Architects (17-1012) | $71,930 | $52,670–$121,390 | $79,870 | −10% | 50 |
| Backflow Prevention SpecialistPlumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) | $67,040 | $44,720–$99,450 | $63,800 | +5% | 840 |
| Irrigation Foreman / Crew LeadFirst-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012) | $60,450 | $47,300–$91,370 | $58,430 | +3% | 220 |
| Irrigation Project ManagerConstruction Managers (11-9021) | $132,760 | $82,010–$202,360 | $114,990 | +15% | 320 |
| Irrigation EstimatorCost Estimators (13-1051) | $77,970 | $52,370–$122,410 | $78,740 | −1% | 420 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Syracuse metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide.
How Syracuse's commercial irrigation market has changed since 2018.
The number of landscaping companies in Syracuse rose from 273 in 2018 to 289 in 2023, up 6%, behind the 13% growth nationally.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping companies: business locations | 273 | 289 | +6% |
| Landscaping companies: employment | – | 1,445 | – |
| Landscaping companies: average annual pay | – | $43,512 | – |
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
Syracuse runs 9% 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 Syracuse's commercial irrigation market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Syracuse ranks 86th for headcount, 35th for median pay and 63rd for concentration for landscaping and groundskeeping workers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 50,410 | $45,530 | 0.87 | 8,422 |
| Rochester | 3,060 | $39,680 | 1.01 | 473 |
| Buffalo | 2,870 | $41,770 | 0.88 | 587 |
| Albany | 2,400 | $41,290 | 0.87 | 380 |
| Syracuse | 1,670 | $40,010 | 0.91 | 289 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial irrigation employers in Syracuse, the pool is about the national norm for its size and local employers are adding people, so expect competing offers on experienced candidates and keep the process short.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Syracuse metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Irrigation licensing in New York.
New York requires backflow testers to be certified. Since March 2011, initial certifications have been issued by training providers the Department of Health approves. The same state rules apply in New York, Buffalo, Rochester and Albany, so candidates licensed there can work in Syracuse without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: New York State Department of Health. Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Syracuse talent.
The closest metro we cover is Rochester, about 75 miles away, with roughly 3,060 landscaping and groundskeeping workers (1.8 times Syracuse's 1,670). Buffalo pays the most nearby, a $41,770 median, 4% above Syracuse. That is the number any Syracuse offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Rochester has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | – | 1,670 | $40,010 |
| Rochester | 74 mi | 3,060 | $39,680 |
| Scranton | 116 mi | 1,330 | $37,330 |
| Albany | 124 mi | 2,400 | $41,290 |
| Buffalo | 139 mi | 2,870 | $41,770 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem | 172 mi | 2,310 | $39,350 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
Frequently asked - Commercial Irrigation hiring in Syracuse.
What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Syracuse?
BLS puts the Syracuse median for landscaping and groundskeeping workers at $40,010 a year, about the same as the $39,150 national median. That ranks 39th of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $35,290 and $50,340, a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. Within New York, New York pays more, at $45,530.
Is it hard to hire landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Syracuse?
It is about average. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are as common in Syracuse as they are nationally (location quotient 0.91), with about 1,670 in the metro. The 289 landscaping companies here average about 5.0 employees per location, mostly small shops, so candidates often know every employer in town by name.
Which commercial irrigation roles pay the most in Syracuse?
Of the roles we recruit for, Irrigation Project Manager pays the most in Syracuse, a $132,760 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Irrigation System Designer at $71,930, 46% below it. Irrigation Technician / Installer is the lowest-paid field role at $40,010. Relative to national pay, Irrigation Project Manager is the strongest-paying role here (15% above). Irrigation System Designer trails national pay the most (10% below).
How many landscaping companies operate in Syracuse?
BLS counted 289 landscaping companies in Syracuse in 2023, employing about 1,445 people between them. Up from 273 in 2018, a 6% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 5.0 people per location, so most are small shops. They pay an average of $43,512, 10% below the $48,279 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counts irrigation contractors under landscaping companies.
Which nearby metros compete with Syracuse for landscaping and groundskeeping workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Rochester (74 miles, about 3,060, $39,680 median), Scranton (116 miles, about 1,330, $37,330 median) and Albany (124 miles, about 2,400, $41,290 median). Rochester has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. Syracuse out-pays Scranton, an advantage when recruiting from there.
The seat is open. The pipeline should not be.
289 landscaping companies in Syracuse are drawing on the same 1,670 landscaping and groundskeeping workers. Let's get your next hire lined up first.
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