Irrigation Technician Job Description

Salary Range

Varies by employer

Experience

Entry-level to 3 years

Work Environment

Outdoors on grounds and sports fields

What Does an Irrigation Technician Do?

A cracked sprinkler head can soak a sidewalk while the grass beside it turns brown. Irrigation technicians track down faults like that across campuses, parks, golf courses and sports fields. They also repair leaking pipes and valves, program the controllers for each season and soil type and, in cold climates, blow out every line before the ground freezes.

Also known as: Senior Irrigation Repairer, Irrigation Repairer

Irrigation Technician Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of an irrigation technician include:

• Inspect sprinkler and drip systems zone by zone; replace broken heads, nozzles and emitters.
• Locate and repair leaking pipes, fittings and valves, digging by hand around buried utilities.
• Program and adjust irrigation controllers for season, soil type, slope and plant needs.
• Troubleshoot faults in valve wiring and solenoids using a multimeter and wire tracer.
• Install new irrigation lines, valves and controllers from plans for renovated grounds and new plantings.
• Test backflow prevention assemblies on the required schedule and file results with the water utility.
• Run water audits, checking pressure and coverage, and recommend changes that cut water use.
• Winterize systems in cold climates by blowing out lines each fall; restart them in spring.
• Update system maps showing pipe runs, valve boxes and controller wiring after each repair.
• Order fittings and parts and keep the repair truck stocked for same-day fixes.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To succeed as an irrigation technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:

• Sprinkler and drip system repair
• Controller programming (Rain Bird, Hunter and similar brands)
• Low-voltage wiring and multimeter use
• Reading irrigation plans and site maps
• Backflow testing certification (required in many areas)
• Valid driver's license for a service truck
• Water conservation: pressure, coverage and scheduling
• Comfort digging and working outdoors in all weather

Education and Training

If you want to start in this work, look for a grounds or landscaping crew that installs sprinklers, because most irrigation technicians learn the job through a few weeks of on-the-job training. Some states require irrigators to be licensed. With experience, you could progress from irrigation repairer to senior technician or grounds supervisor.

Salary and Job Outlook

According to BLS, employment in its catch-all group of other grounds maintenance workers, which includes irrigation technicians, is projected to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 1,800 openings a year. And, as long as there is turf to water through dry summers, irrigation technicians will be needed to make sure the water reaches roots and stays off the pavement.

Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Grounds maintenance workers, all other.

Irrigation Technician Pay Range

Highest-Paying States for Irrigation Technicians

The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Indiana ($78,580), Minnesota ($73,300), Oklahoma ($73,300), Massachusetts ($72,550), Arizona ($72,550). Pay is lowest in Idaho ($36,000), Louisiana ($33,970), Mississippi ($31,420).

Applying for an Irrigation Technician Job

• Job application letter sample
• How to write the skills section of a resume
• How to describe your work experience
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