Also called: Irrigation Worker, Water Tender (Farm)
Moves water across farm fields, setting pipes, ditches, pivots, and drip lines so crops get the right amount.
Irrigators often work odd hours because water arrives on a schedule. They open gates on canals, set siphon tubes, check center pivots on a phone app, and walk fields looking for dry spots or flooding.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Learned on the job; some take irrigation courses at community colleges.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Irrigation Technology (2-year), Agricultural Production.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 45-2099: Average (3% to 4%).
Medium risk for 10 years. Remote-controlled pivots and soil sensors let one person cover more fields; laying pipe and fixing leaks keep some hands-on jobs.
Age 16+. One way to start: Ask farms, ranches and irrigation districts in your area about summer irrigator jobs
Classes: Ag mechanics CTE, Earth science, Algebra I.
Official data: O*NET occupation 45-2099.
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