Water Supply and Irrigation Systems Revenue Benchmarks
The average water supply and irrigation systems business in the United States generates $3.9M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,556 water supply and irrigation systems businesses in the U.S., employing 39,514 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $75K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Water Supply and Irrigation Systems Business Actually Do?
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems: Businesses that provide essential services — electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage — through pipes and wires.
Who buys: Consumers, businesses, and industrial users within a service territory.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$3.9M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$347K
per year
Total Businesses
3,556
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$193K
small business avg
Labor Cost
20.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$75K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Water Supply and Irrigation Systems Charge?
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems: Utility rates are regulated by state public utility commissions and vary by region. The specifics vary within the water supply and irrigation systems category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Residential electric | $0.10–0.30/kWh |
Residential natural gas | $0.80–1.60/therm |
Residential water | $3–10 per 1000 gallons |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete water supply and irrigation systems business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a water supply and irrigation systems business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the water supply and irrigation systems industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & purchased power | $34 | $1.3M | Natural gas, coal, or purchased wholesale electricity. |
Wages & benefits | $20 | $772K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $434K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $87K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $28 | $1.1M | Grid maintenance, regulatory compliance, capital depreciation. |
Net profit | $5 | $193K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
7.32%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.46%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.92%
annual
Businesses Closed
180
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Water Supply and Irrigation Systems Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
9 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a water supply and irrigation systems business do?
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems: Businesses that provide essential services — electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage — through pipes and wires. Consumers, businesses, and industrial users within a service territory.
- How much do water supply and irrigation systems charge?
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems: Utility rates are regulated by state public utility commissions and vary by region. The specifics vary within the water supply and irrigation systems category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average water supply and irrigation systems make per year?
- The average water supply and irrigation systems business generates $3.9M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $193K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many water supply and irrigation systems businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,556 water supply and irrigation systems businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 39,514 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a water supply and irrigation systems business?
- Startup costs for a water supply and irrigation systems business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the water supply and irrigation systems industry?
- The average employee in the water supply and irrigation systems industry earns $75K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The water supply and irrigation systems industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.9% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (7.3% entry vs 6.5% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 72% of water supply and irrigation systems businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 180 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the water supply and irrigation systems industry earns $75,286/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 5,712 establishments employing 50,315 people, the typical business has about 9 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The water supply and irrigation systems industry has declined 16% since 2000 (from 4,362 to 3,659 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Water Supply and Irrigation Systems revenue with other industries: