Irrigation Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Irrigation Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Irrigation Engineer in the United States is $66,669 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, an Irrigation Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,733
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,181 to $72,460
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,274

Key Factors That Influence Irrigation Engineer Salaries

An Irrigation Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Irrigation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Irrigation Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $68,020
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,101
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,003
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,735
  • Expert (over 8 years): $149,262
Levels Salary
Irrigatio... Level Irrigation Engineer$68,020
Financial... Level Irrigation Engineer$80,101
Financial... Level Irrigation Engineer$96,003
Financial... Level Irrigation Engineer$115,735
Financial... Level Irrigation Engineer$149,262

How Do Irrigation Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Irrigation Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,816.
  • California: $73,536.
  • Massachusetts: $72,556.

Top Paying Cities for Irrigation Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $84,089
  • San Francisco: $83,169
  • Oakland: $81,416

What Skills Can Increase an Irrigation Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 16.59% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • CPA (Mentioned in 1.02% Job Postings): A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 16.59%
Microsoft Office 1.61%
CPA 1.02%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Irrigation Engineer's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Financial Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $69,336
4%
Financial Management $69,336
4%
Insight $68,669
3%

Irrigation Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Irrigation Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 63% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Irrigation Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Irrigation Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Irrigation Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$90,003$43.035%
Software & Networking$86,669$42.030%
Pharmaceuticals$80,003$38.020%
Energy & Utilities$78,669$38.018%
Biotechnology$74,669$36.012%

How Education impacts an Irrigation Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Irrigation Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Irrigation Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,535 and $67,849).

Irrigation Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Irrigation Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.9%
Associates 3.1%
Bachelors 65.9%
Masters 28.2%
Doctorate 0.7%

Irrigation Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Irrigation Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$60,181
Average $66,669/year
$72,460
$5,015
Average $5,556/month
$6,038
$1,157
Average $1,282/week
$1,393
$29
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,460 $6,038 $1,393 $35
Average $66,669 $5,556 $1,282 $32
25th Percentile $60,181 $5,015 $1,157 $29

Most common benefits for Irrigation Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Irrigation Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Irrigation Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Irrigation Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Irrigation Engineer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Irrigation Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 35% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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