Water Supply and Irrigation Systems — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the water supply and irrigation systems industry earns $75,286 per year ($36.20/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Water Supply and Irrigation Systems Workers Earn?
At $75,286/year (equivalent to $36.20/hour for a full-time worker), water supply and irrigation systems wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.
The typical water supply and irrigation systems business employs 9 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average water supply and irrigation systems business generating $3.9M/year with 9 employees at $75,286 each, total payroll represents roughly 17.6% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a water supply and irrigation systemsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $97,872/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 9 employees = ~$677,574/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $36.20/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $3.9M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Water Supply and Irrigation Systems revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do water supply and irrigation systems employees make?
- The average water supply and irrigation systems employee earns $75,286 per year, which is equivalent to $36.20/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the water supply and irrigation systems industry?
- The water supply and irrigation systems industry employs 50,315 workers across 5,712 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 9 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).