Irrigation Technician Job Description and Template [2024]

In today’s market, hiring a new irrigation technician is tough. With a labor shortage in the trades, it’s not easy to find one with the right skills, work experience, and certifications.

Here, we’ll show you how to start with a great job description that outlines everything you should expect from an irrigation technician. We’ll also provide a job description template you can edit to get started.

What Does an Irrigation Technician Do?

Irrigation technicians install, test, maintain, and repair various irrigation systems that keep landscapes lush.

In the process, irrigation technicians ensure irrigation systems are efficient and comply with water-use regulations in states like California which have strict water-use guidelines. 

They also:

• Assess the client’s landscape, plants, and climate to determine the best irrigation system for their needs. 

• Prep tools and equipment before the job and track inventory.

• Winterize irrigation systems for residential and commercial clients.

• Schedule maintenance and repairs based on clients’ ongoing needs and upsell extra services to boost revenue.

Since it can take weeks to install a new irrigation system, irrigation specialists are also responsible for maintaining regular communication with clients about the status of the job.

For Trevor Lively of Blue Jay Irrigation, ServiceTitan transformed his business by enabling more streamlined communication: “We can get more verbal confirmations in the field, which in the past [...] was very clunky. A lot of it was writ in notes and then having to get the note to a salesman, to send the estimate. Just very inefficient.”

Now, his team is much more connected and they can focus on doing their best work in the field.

Common Irrigation Technician Responsibilities

Your irrigation technician’s main responsibility should be ensuring clients are satisfied with their irrigation system and that it functions properly.

Here are some of the key responsibilities for irrigation technicians: 

• Advising clients: Testing soil, assessing plants, and advising on the best irrigation practices and upgrades.

• Installing irrigation systems: Installing various irrigation systems, including sprinklers, drip irrigation, and smart irrigation.

• Maintaining irrigation systems: Conducting routine checks of irrigation systems and solving issues such as uneven watering, faulty sprinkler heads, and electrical issues.

• Seasonal adjustments: Winterizing irrigation systems for clients in colder climates and de-winterizing systems in spring.

• Tracking tools and stock: Preparing tools and materials for site visits and tracking stock on hand to determine purchasing requirements.

Irrigation technicians are also responsible for maintaining excellent long-term relationships with clients who often need regularly scheduled upgrades and repairs.

Common Irrigation Technician Requirements and Skills

Irrigation installation can be complex, requiring studying blueprints, understanding city regulations, and working in all weather conditions with small tools and heavy equipment.

Your techs will need a well-rounded skill set to do the job right. Here are some common requirements and skills irrigation technicians need:

• High school diploma or GED: High school graduation is a basic indicator that your new hire has well-rounded knowledge.

• Irrigation technician certification: Certifications from reputable organizations like the Irrigation Association and WaterSense help ensure candidates have the right professional skill set.

• Landscaping knowledge: Including soil quality, plants, and how the climate will interact with the client’s irrigation system.

• Specialized experience: Depending on your client base, you might need specialized experience in large-scale irrigation projects, smart irrigation systems, and irrigation technology.

That said, the skill set you’ll need will differ depending on the demands of your irrigation business. 

Trevor Lively of Blue Jay Irrigation hires separate techs for commercial and residential irrigation because of the different skill sets each client needs: “Commercial, you're not as much customer interactive, but you tend to get more difficult problems. So maybe you need a technician who is a little less personable but has a lot of field knowledge. As [for] residential, you need someone a little more personable…”

Regardless of the type of client you’re serving, irrigation technicians will also need important soft skills like:

• Organizational skills: Since irrigation projects can get complicated, your tech will need to arrive on the job fully informed and ready to give clients a proper quote.

• Customer service skills: Irrigation installation and maintenance can create long-term opportunities. This requires excellent customer service skills to keep clients coming back.

Remember that your processes determine the quality of your new irrigation technician.

ServiceTitan’s Field Service App can help your technicians stay organized and efficient. With our mobile-friendly app, irrigation technicians can upload forms and pricebooks and close sales on-site.

With accurate, mobile pricebooks, techs can create estimates based on the exact price of the customer’s preferred irrigation system.

They can also accept mobile payments from customers to close sales faster.

They’ll be able to arrive at every job fully informed with detailed job histories and customer information at their fingertips.

The Field Service App is part of a suite of irrigation business software that connects your back office information to techs on the ground, ensuring they always have the most accurate, up-to-date information on every job.

Jeff Soch, general manager of Naiad Irrigation Systems, appreciates how the field service app lets teams access info on the job site: “At the end of the day, we wanted something where the guys in the field were able to do their jobs much more efficiently in addition to having the office being able to run a little more smoothly as well.”

Irrigation Technician Job Description Template

This irrigation technician job description template is for educational purposes only, but it can help you get started writing your own.

As you’re editing, keep in mind:

• To attract the best people, your job description should tell candidates what your company can offer them, too.

• Think about your minimum qualifications: what irrigation technician skills do you need, and which ones can you offer training for? 

• Include information about employee development, opportunities for advancement, and your company's benefits.

Jody Underhill, senior partner at Rapid Hire, notes that proactive outreach is important to target employees with the right work experience: “Today, the way you advertise for customers should be the same way you advertise for employees.”

Irrigation Technician – Full time

We’re looking for a reliable irrigation technician to join our team. Essential functions of this role include irrigation installation according to schematics, troubleshooting previously installed systems, and routine maintenance of irrigation systems. Our ideal candidate will be a certified irrigation technician with 2+ years of related experience in the field.

Primary responsibilities:

• Test soil and analyze landscapes to determine the best irrigation system.

• Work with commercial and residential clients to determine irrigation needs.

• Install irrigation systems according to schematics and blueprints, including sprinkler irrigation systems, drip systems, and smart systems.

• Set timers on smart irrigation systems based on the customer’s landscape, local climate, and water conservation regulations.

• Work closely with the team to test irrigation systems and troubleshoot problems.

• Adjust and repair systems to optimize water distribution in commercial and residential settings.

• Advise clients on best irrigation practices and recommend system upgrades.

• Work with hand tools and heavy machinery to lay pipes, install sprinklers, and configure control systems for smart irrigation.

• Advise groundskeepers and homeowners on irrigation system operation and maintenance schedules, including winterizing and de-winterizing.

• Use handheld tools for the repair and maintenance of irrigation systems.

• Proactively communicate with clients on the next steps for irrigation maintenance.

• Install and maintain backflow preventers on irrigation systems.

• Provide friendly, professional service and maintain long-term relationships with commercial and residential clients.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Current knowledge of irrigation systems on the market, including a technical understanding of smart irrigation.

• Experience with irrigation tools, including hacksaws, wire cutters, backhoes, matlocks, and trencher machines.

• Experience with irrigation technology, including leak-detection equipment, water-flow meters, and soil moisture sensors.

• Understanding of safety protocols for manual irrigation and electrical lines.

• Communication skills to ensure customer satisfaction and upsell additional services.

• Administrative tasks, including using pricebooks to provide quotes, operating remote payment systems, and related duties.

Educational/certification requirements:

• High school diploma or GED.

• Irrigation technician certification from the Irrigation Association, with at least two years of industry experience.

• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Environmental conditions:

• Occasional exposure to working in extreme weather conditions.

• Workers will be required to commit to a full-time schedule with occasional overtime.

• Environment involves exposure to dirt, dust, and various common plants.

• The work environment includes working with electrical hazards using recommended safety equipment.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand, squat, and walk for up to six consecutive hours.

• Manual dexterity to operate handheld tools.

• Natural or corrected vision to focus on detailed irrigation work.

• Reasonable accommodations will be given to workers with disabilities to meet the job’s physical demands.

After you’ve edited your job description, look at some of our irrigation technician interview questions to screen applicants and find your perfect fit. 

ServiceTitan is your all-in-one solution for complete irrigation business management, from back-office reporting to quotes, estimates, and customer service. Book a demo to learn how ServiceTitan can provide everything your irrigation specialists need to deliver efficient work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are a few of the most common questions irrigation service businesses have about hiring irrigation specialists.

What is the average salary of an irrigation service technician?

Pay varies depending on experience and qualifications, but you can expect to pay irrigation technicians anywhere from $29k to $81k annually. Look at our labor rate calculator to understand how your salary range will impact the price of your services.

What are some good characteristics of an irrigation technician?

Irrigation technicians should be knowledgeable about best irrigation practices for a wide variety of landscapes and climates. They should also have a solid understanding of different irrigation systems and when to use them. A good irrigation technician will also be personable and able to maintain positive relationships with clients to get you more referrals.