Irrigation Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an irrigation technician job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an irrigation technician. Feel free to use our irrigation technician job description template to produce your own irrigation technician job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an irrigation technician.
Who is an Irrigation Technician?
Irrigation Is the artificial application of water to a piece of land in absence of rainfall; this process has been highly beneficial to the agricultural sector and it cannot be complete without the help of an Irrigation Technician. An Irrigation Technician is an individual who provides irrigation systems that keep crops, gardens, parks, and different green spaces watered. The responsibility of an irrigation technician installs and maintain irrigation equipment which includes sprinklers, pumps, and water pipes. When installing systems, they must be able to read the manual guidelines and be highly knowledgeable about what the system is. They also adjust to environmental settings such as timers.
They also have an in-depth understanding of different kinds of irrigation systems and how they function: they also play the role of installing the correct irrigation systems and maintaining and repairs of equipment. An irrigation technician oversees irrigation farms, facilities, hotels, golf courses, and grounds.
In some scenarios, an irrigation technician may be in charge of designing an irrigation system and he will need to follow the stipulated procedure put in place to design an irrigation system. There are diverse elements that make an irrigation system efficient and such elements are: climate, soil, type of vegetation, and watering regularly. There are challenges such as over-watering, shortage of water, and underground leaking which an irrigation technician may face in the course of discharging his duties. Irrigation technicians are considered experts in troubleshooting and dealing with water, so they can counterfeit these challenges quickly as they emerge
Irrigation technicians in this contemporary era, have adopted the utilization of different kinds of machines in the course of discharging their duties. Examples of such machines are tractors, trenchers (a machine that installs irrigation lines), and mowers. They are also responsible for operating irrigation controllers, sprinkler heads, pipes as well as other electrical systems that will make the irrigation process smooth and efficient. They utilize the latest technology which makes provision for irrigation technicians to observe irrigation lines from a computer so that they can discover a problem faster and keep detailed records of how an irrigation system works. Excellent documentation or record keeping is very important for all irrigation managerial activities and other engagements.
Irrigation technicians also work with property managers to ensure the proper organization of activities. They also consider that the needs of a business vary from one organization to another. They are responsible for maintaining a good working relationship and strong7 communication with the owner or manager.
The work setting of an irrigation technician can be an office environment or an irrigation site. They can spend most of their time in the office monitoring the computer system and they can also spend most of their time outdoor working in favorable and unfavorable weather conditions. They can be called upon at any time of the day to do any work or task. They need to possess problem-solving and communication skills to fit into this role perfectly. They must be able to communicate the type of irrigation system that will fit a particular environment perfectly and they must also give reasons why they adopted that irrigation system for the environment.
Irrigation Technician Job Description
What is an irrigation technician job description? An irrigation technician job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an irrigation technician in an organization. Below are the irrigation technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an irrigation technician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an irrigation technician include the following:
- Regulates maintains and repairs prevailing irrigation systems to ensure adequate moisture for plantings. Establishes and maintains automatic irrigation systems to run systematically according to the landscape care program.
- Constructs, installs, tests, and maintains new irrigation systems, backflow devices, and controllers. May provide functional and technical direction to other grounds staff about irrigation systems design, installation, and maintenance.
- Monitors and utilizes college-wide Maxicom System (computerized water management system). Replaces hardware as needed for this system (e.g., wires, valves, etc.)
- Regulates special and/or heavy equipment and vehicles to perform the duties of an irrigation specialist and equipment operator. May be required to operate a backhoe and/or payloader.
- Helps in planning and construction of special campus projects on all campuses as assigned.
- Conducts duties of a Groundskeeper II position.
- Installs and maintains all irrigation backflow devices district-wide. May test district-wide backflow devices.
- Helps with Grounds Foreperson to plan and complete landscape projects at multiple sites.
- Commands irrigation supplies, spare parts, and equipment as authorized and takes deliveries on or off campus. Collects quotes for services from outside contractors as requested, in compliance with college guidelines.
- Records and maintains appropriate logs, records, and inventory of systems. Such as blueprints using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software and geographical information systems (GIS).
- Suggests and assists in prioritization of upgrades and replacement of systems and equipment. Help in budget preparation related to this work.
- Organizes the college’s efforts under the City BES Sewer Credit Program to ensure that appropriate credits are received.
- Reacts to work order requests and needs for assistance through various communication methods.
- Conducts specialized tasks during adverse weather conditions and college closures. In the event of unplanned closures due to weather circumstances and/or other circumstances, serves as “essential personnel” for reopening the college.
- Conserves a safe work environment and safely performs all duties. Identifies and adheres to all safety rules compelled by the college and regulatory agencies. Reports all safety violations to management.
- Executes other related duties as assigned
- Inspects and packing equipment for the day’s work.
- Drives to the client’s territory.
- Samples the soil and vegetation to determine irrigation needs.
- Maps out areas for irrigation installation.
- Digs trenches and installs pipes and lines.
- Installs and pumps electrical timers.
- Samples the irrigation system with the aid of computer software.
- Performs routine maintenance checks.
- Troubleshoots and restores faulty parts.
- Finalizes progress reports and associated paperwork
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED.
- Proven work experience as an Irrigation Technician.
- Understanding of irrigation and electrical timer systems.
- Adequate communication skills.
- Proficiency in plumbing is preferable.
- Capacity to work outside in all weather conditions.
- Capacity to stand for long periods and lift heavy objects.
- Mastery of soil, vegetation, and climate.
- Communication Skills and problem-solving skills
- Ability to Multi-task
Essential Skills
There are certain skills and competencies irrigation technician needs to possess and they are:
- Adaptability: An irrigation technician installs and repairs sprinklers and other equipment for irrigation purposes. To do the job of an irrigation technician you have to adapt to the environment you are working in. There be situations such as adverse weather conditions and mosquitoes being prevalent in that situation. You have to adapt to climate change and any environmental situation you find yourself in to be able to discharge your duties effectively.
- Physical Stamina and Manual Dexterity: An irrigation technician must be very strong physically to carry out his responsibility as expected. You need physical strength and stamina to lift and haul heavy equipment and also and some jobs may demand heavy equipment to dig trenches. An irrigation technician must ensure he possesses physical strength so that he or she will not break down in the course of discharging his or her duties.
In addition, you also need to be very good with your hands to install pipes, pumps, water lines, suction and valves, and electrical timers.
- Administrative and Clerical Skills: It is highly requisite for irrigation technicians to possess administration skills because their job responsibility demands that they travel to a particular territory to conduct routine inspections to guarantee the operation of irrigation systems. It is very paramount for them to keep a record of investigative findings, parts replaced and repairs made.
- Problem-solving and Analytical Skills: As an Irrigation technician, you will encounter challenges when discharging your duties and it is highly paramount for you to have problem-solving skills. For instance, you may encounter a challenge of faulty equipment used for irrigation and it is your responsibility to fix it.
In addition, you need to possess an analytical mind because you may spend days visiting different locations to test spoils and to suggest the best type of agricultural sprinkler and irrigation system that will work in that locality.
- Computer and Technology Skills: The world has gone digital and most irrigation processes are done with the use of computers and technology. Most advanced irrigation technicians now adopt the digital method of irrigation and most of them can work remotely. It is the responsibility of an irrigation technician to troubleshoot and repair the leaked system. Some leaked systems can be controlled with the use of technology: they can be stopped remotely until onsite repairs are made.
- Bilingual Skills: An irrigation technician must be proficient in two or more languages. Their job responsibility demands that they travel from one location to another suggesting the appropriate irrigation methods for farm communities. It is therefore highly paramount for them to build a bond with these communities by knowing how to speak their language.
How to Become an Irrigation Technician
To become an Irrigation technician, there are some requisite steps you have to put in place to achieve this and they are:
- Acquire a High School Diploma
Irrigation technicians do not need any formal education beyond high school to achieve their dreams. Most employers prefer candidates that possess the knowledge and expertise of irrigation design and landscape management. An aspiring irrigation technician can enroll in a certification or a professional course in landscaping services that help candidates to harness the knowledge of different irrigation techniques and systems. They also need a high school education to know subjects such as agricultural science, maths, physics, chemistry, and biology that will equip them as irrigation technicians.
- Gain Relevant Experience:
This is highly requisite because the role of an irrigation technician has to do with skills and expertise. An irrigation technician needs to enroll in a voluntary internship or paid internship to acquire knowledge of different irrigation systems and know how to install water pipes and pumps. This knowledge can only be harnessed in a work setting or environment. The more knowledge you acquire, the more your income increases and it makes you competent to take the qualification test. Courses in certificate programs explore topics such as systems installation, water resources management, irrigation system design, golf course irrigation, and plant science. Courses in Associate degree programs topics such as cost estimating and troubleshooting, electrical systems, coverage of pumps, and motor control.
- Become Certified
This may not be mandatory but it will go a long way to pave the way for you as a job candidate. You can become certified in the professional certification known as CIT which means Certified Irrigation Technician and this will increase your job prospects. To be qualified to register for the exams, you must have six months or 1000 hours of irrigation-related experience before enrollment. You can also enroll in Certified Irrigation Contractor( CIC) and Certified Irrigation Designer (CID). The CID certifications three years of work experience and education as well as being successful in the three exams.
- Maintain your Status Quo
To remain certified, the requirement is that you submit 20 continuing education units every two years.
Where Can an Irrigation Technician Work?
An irrigation technician can work in State, Federal, and local agricultural agencies, Landscaping companies, schools, golf courses, municipal parks, and other possible vacancies. Some irrigation technicians can be self-employed while others can also work remotely in an organization that has gone digital.
Irrigation Technician Salary Scale
The salary scale of an irrigation technician varies across countries and below are some salaries of some countries:
- In the United States, The average irrigation technician’s salary is $39,975 per year or $20.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $34,154 per year while most experienced workers make up to $49,719 per year.
- In Canada, The average irrigation technician’s salary is $42,900 per year or $22 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at $37,659 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $55,517 per year.
- In Australia, according to PayScale, the average hourly pay for an Irrigation Technician in Australia is AU$26.92. The salary varies based on the location and experience of the irrigation technician.
- In the United Kingdom, The average irrigation technician salary in the United Kingdom is £19759 or an equivalent hourly rate of £9.
- In India, The national average salary for an Irrigation Technician is ₹51,251 per month. The salary varies based on the location and experience of the Irrigation technician.
