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The differences between irrigators and groundsmen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an irrigator and a groundsman. Additionally, a groundsman has an average salary of $33,013, which is higher than the $26,562 average annual salary of an irrigator.
The top three skills for an irrigator include harvest, sprinklers and GRASS. The most important skills for a groundsman are CDL, hand tools, and lawn care.
| Irrigator | Groundsman | |
| Yearly salary | $26,562 | $33,013 |
| Hourly rate | $12.77 | $15.87 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 5,808 | 3,486 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An irrigator usually works on farmland and is responsible for the management and production of crops. They spend most of their time working in fields or gardens; they plant crops, water the soil, apply fertilizer, and apply pest-control measures. They have a daily routine of duties at their farm. They operate an irrigation controller and other types of machinery. Their core duty is to keep the agricultural land healthy.
Groundsmen or greenkeepers are professionals who take responsibility for the maintenance of materials and equipment. They make certain to provide enough stock of consumables. Part of their responsibilities is to make sure that the grounds, flowers, lawns, and shrubs are kept from plant diseases and harmful insects. They are also responsible for looking after the sports grounds, including bowling greens, racecourses, tennis courts, rugby pitches, and football fields.
Irrigators and groundsmen have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Irrigator | Groundsman | |
| Average salary | $26,562 | $33,013 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $34,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brighton, CO | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Ball | Nashua Country Club |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an irrigator and a groundsman in terms of educational background:
| Irrigator | Groundsman | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between irrigators' and groundsmen' demographics:
| Irrigator | Groundsman | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.4% Female, 9.6% | Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 41.5% Asian, 1.7% White, 43.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 2.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |