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Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: Job Description
Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification.
What Do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation cover:
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
- Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.
- Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Agricultural Service Worker
- Applicator
- Applicator Sprayer
- Certified Pesticide Applicator
- Chemical Applicator
- Commercial Lawn Specialist
- Crop Applicator
- Custom Applicator
Job Outlook
There are roughly 59,019 pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +1.1% over the projection horizon.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $34,037 |
| Hourly median | $16.36 |
| 10th percentile | $23,112 |
| 25th percentile | $28,574 |
| 75th percentile | $39,500 |
| 90th percentile | $44,963 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $59,550 |
| New Jersey | $55,680 |
| North Dakota | $50,670 |
| Hawaii | $50,040 |
| Oregon | $49,400 |
| New York | $49,390 |
| New Mexico | $49,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,840 |
| Washington | $48,570 |
| Virginia | $48,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 |
| Ohio | $47,890 |
| Wyoming | $47,620 |
| Indiana | $47,540 |
| Delaware | $47,430 |
| Illinois | $47,410 |
| North Carolina | $47,370 |
| New Hampshire | $47,250 |
| Michigan | $46,940 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 |
| Kansas | $46,470 |
| Colorado | $46,040 |
| Arizona | $45,880 |
| South Dakota | $45,650 |
| Texas | $45,530 |
| Maryland | $45,250 |
| Alabama | $44,890 |
| California | $44,540 |
| Idaho | $44,100 |
| Nebraska | $44,090 |
| Wisconsin | $42,950 |
| Kentucky | $41,890 |
| Louisiana | $41,320 |
| South Carolina | $40,720 |
| Mississippi | $40,470 |
| Florida | $40,240 |
| Nevada | $40,170 |
| Missouri | $39,270 |
| Rhode Island | $38,720 |
| Iowa | $38,480 |
| Arkansas | $38,340 |
| Utah | $38,180 |
| Connecticut | $38,030 |
| Montana | $37,960 |
| West Virginia | $36,860 |
| Georgia | $35,750 |
| Oklahoma | $32,040 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,400 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,290 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $52,196 | 5.5% | 0.63 |
| Great Lakes | $47,493 | 15.4% | 1.46 |
| New England | $47,250 | 0.3% | 0.60 |
| Far Western US | $46,164 | 13.0% | 0.85 |
| Plains States | $45,609 | 16.9% | 3.61 |
| Southwest | $43,701 | 6.8% | 0.53 |
| Rocky Mountains | $43,215 | 9.7% | 3.20 |
| Southeast | $40,798 | 31.8% | 2.04 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $60,310 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $58,850 | |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $56,410 | 170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $55,680 | 560 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $55,030 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $54,640 | 110 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $52,590 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $51,900 | 140 |
Which Industries Hire Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
The largest employers of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 15,590 | $44,910 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,150 | $47,690 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1,270 | $42,680 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 500 | $42,120 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 480 | $43,210 |
| Retail Trade | 460 | $44,580 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 190 | $31,970 |
| Educational Services | 90 | $46,920 |
Below are examples of industries where pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation work:
Tools and Technology
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Google Android (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Exposed to Contaminants
Getting Started in This Career
Typical pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Supplemental)
- Pest Control Workers (Primary-Short)
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (Primary-Short)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (Primary-Long)
- Agricultural Equipment Operators (Primary-Short)
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse (Primary-Long)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 37-3012.00 (Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation).
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