Irrigation jobs in demand

Falls Church, Va. – Students with a two- or four-year degree and some irrigation curriculum can expect entry-level compensation beginning at $30,000-$40,000, but those figures can run as high as $60,000 or more for engineering, sales and marketing graduates with some irrigation background.

Strong demand for new hires at all levels of education, from high school to college , was driven by projected industry growth, with more than half the respondents anticipating 5 to 7 percent annual growth rates over the next five years, and more than a quarter of respondents forecasting a growth rate range of  8 to 18 percent.

Survey respondents also registered high job satisfaction, with an overwhelming 83 percent rating their own irrigation careers as “rewarding” or “very rewarding.”

The survey, conducted by the Irrigation Association Education Foundation, polled Irrigation Association members representing all segments of the irrigation industry, including local contractors, consultants, golf course managers, systems designers, irrigation-trained government employees, educators, distributors and manufacturers.

Complete survey results can be viewed on the IAEF Web site, www.iaef.org under the industry column on the homepage.

While survey results show a correlation between education levels and compensation, the majority of entry-level jobs available, such as systems designer and systems maintenance technician, are available to high school or vocational school graduates.

These jobs offer entry into the industry with excellent career growth potential – especially to students who pursue some additional irrigation education. Respondents indicated a preference for applicants with irrigation education such as industry training programs, independent study, apprenticeships, or part-time post high school education programs.