Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $46,340/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +3.8% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 4,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
The median pay for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is $46,340 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
Employment for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is projected to change +3.8% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
About 4,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.