All About Pesticide Applicators
Pesticide Applicator Definition Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops. Usually requires specific training and State or Federal certification.
List of Pesticide Applicator Job Duties
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
- Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.
- Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Pesticide Applicator?
Pesticide Applicators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Types of Pesticide Applicator Jobs
- Lawn Technician
- Spray Technician
- Pesticide Applicator
- Weed Eradicator
- Lawn Specialist
Is There Going to be Demand for Pesticide Applicators?
There were about 38,000 jobs for Pesticide Applicator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,000 new jobs for Pesticide Applicator by 2026. There will be an estimated 5,000 positions for Pesticide Applicator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Pesticide Applicator are Nevada, Washington, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Illinois, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Pesticide Applicator Make?
The average yearly salary of a Pesticide Applicator ranges between $23,890 and $56,370.

Pesticide Applicators who work in Vermont, Hawaii, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Pesticide Applicators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $33,140 |
Arizona | $38,580 |
Arkansas | $29,520 |
California | $50,560 |
Colorado | $38,600 |
Connecticut | $40,240 |
Delaware | $33,640 |
Florida | $31,790 |
Georgia | $36,960 |
Hawaii | $40,900 |
Illinois | $39,930 |
Indiana | $41,180 |
Iowa | $36,670 |
Kansas | $34,680 |
Kentucky | $31,790 |
Louisiana | $29,700 |
Maryland | $40,560 |
Massachusetts | $33,230 |
Michigan | $32,600 |
Minnesota | $39,220 |
Mississippi | $28,950 |
Missouri | $38,510 |
Montana | $34,450 |
Nebraska | $34,880 |
Nevada | $31,960 |
New Hampshire | $38,840 |
New Jersey | $36,970 |
New Mexico | $34,930 |
New York | $42,530 |
North Carolina | $37,470 |
North Dakota | $43,820 |
Ohio | $34,600 |
Oklahoma | $37,220 |
Oregon | $51,040 |
Pennsylvania | $37,480 |
South Carolina | $34,930 |
South Dakota | $33,360 |
Tennessee | $35,070 |
Texas | $35,650 |
Utah | $34,940 |
Vermont | $54,520 |
Virginia | $35,790 |
Washington | $37,920 |
West Virginia | $35,170 |
Wisconsin | $35,080 |
Wyoming | $38,500 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Pesticide Applicators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pesticide Applicators:
How do I Become a Pesticide Applicator?
Are there Pesticide Applicators education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Pesticide Applicator?

Where do Pesticide Applicators Work?

Pesticide Applicators work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Pesticide Applicator may also be interested in:
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
- Locomotive Firers
References:
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