Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
SOC code 37-3012 · O*NET-SOC 37-3012.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$46,340
a year
Hourly
$22.28
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$47,070
$22.63 per hour
Middle 50%
$39,160 – $51,240
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,570 – $61,420
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
27,050
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $35,570
- $17.10/hr
- 25th percentile
- $39,160
- $18.83/hr
- Median percentile
- $46,340
- $22.28/hr
- 75th percentile
- $51,240
- $24.63/hr
- 90th percentile
- $61,420
- $29.53/hr
What do pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
- Establish driving routes for pesticide applications.
- Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation earn?
The national median is $46,340 a year. The full range runs from $35,570 at the 10th percentile to $61,420 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Active Listening2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Speaking2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.8/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Chemistry3.8/5
- Sales and Marketing3.8/5
- Biology3.6/5
- Production and Processing3.6/5
- Education and Training3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.