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irrigation management technology

What irrigation management technology Majors Need to Know

Programs in irrigation management technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that irrigation management technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in irrigation management technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a irrigation management technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to irrigation management technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, irrigation management technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.8 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.8 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	3.8 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.8 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by irrigation management technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Learning management system LMS	Computer based training software	—
Career management systems CMS	Data base user interface and query software	—
Collaborative editing software	Word processing software	—
Common Curriculum	Computer based training software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Blackboard Learn	Computer based training software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for irrigation management technology graduates include:

• Physical Therapy Aides Teacher
• Clinical Instructor
• Associate Professor
• Vocational Trainer
• Weather Teacher
• Manual Training Teacher
• Business Machines Teacher
• Vocational Training Instructor
• Vocational Training Teacher
• Key Punch Teacher
• HVAC-R Instructor (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Instructor)
• Auto Mechanics Teacher
• Industrial Arts Teacher
• Cosmetology Teacher
• Sales Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to irrigation management technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	33.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	23.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	22.3%
Bachelor’s degree	10.3%
Some college courses	4.3%
Master’s degree	3.9%
Doctoral degree	2.4%
Less than a high school diploma	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

How Much Do irrigation management technology Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of irrigation management technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$55,065
4 years	$59,906
5 years	$65,945

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $65,945 — roughly 20% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in irrigation management technology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, irrigation management technology graduates earn a median of $59,906 four years after completion — roughly 58% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Agricultural Mechanization	01.02
Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician	01.0205
Agricultural Mechanization, General	01.0201
Agricultural Power Machinery Operation	01.0204
Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming	01.0504
Farrier Science	01.0509

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.