Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
SOC 37-3012BLS OEWS May 2025
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. Crop dusters are included in “Commercial Pilots” (53-2012).
National median · BLS
$46,340
▲ +2.52%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$47,070
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
27,050
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,570
25th
$39,160
Median (50th)
$46,340
75th
$51,240
90th — top pay
$61,420
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
BLS projects employment of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 3,300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
25,700 → 26,700
+1,000 jobs
Projected change
+3.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
4.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.0
Time Management3.0
Active Listening2.9
Critical Thinking2.9
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Operation and Control2.9
Reading Comprehension2.9
Social Perceptiveness2.9
Coordination2.8
Speaking2.8
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service4.8
English Language4.0
Chemistry3.8
Sales and Marketing3.8
Biology3.6
Production and Processing3.6
Education and Training3.5
Administration and Management3.4
Software and technology used
FacebookGoogle AndroidMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookCustomer database softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsMaterials inventory softwareRate calculation softwareUnit conversion software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation do
Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
Record information about pesticide applications, such as the type used and amount applied.
Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
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.
Establish driving routes for pesticide applications.
Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $46,340.
