Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

37-3012.00 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.

Also known as: Agricultural Service Worker, Applicator, Applicator Sprayer, Certified Pesticide Applicator, Chemical Applicator, Commercial Lawn Specialist, Crop Applicator, Custom Applicator, ...

Annual Salary

$45,200

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$38,040 25th – 75th percentile $50,960

10th percentile $34,590

90th percentile $58,910

U.S. Employment: 25,200

Job Outlook

+3.8%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (About average)

Annual Job Openings 4,100 per year (avg. 2024–2034)

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
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.
Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.3

Speaking 3.1

Critical Thinking 3.1

Time Management 3.1

Reading Comprehension 3.0

Operations Monitoring 3.0

Operation and Control 3.0

Coordination 3.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.6

Biology 3.5

Production and Processing 3.5

English Language 3.5

Administration and Management 3.4

Public Safety and Security 3.1

Education and Training 3.1

Mathematics 3.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

High School

56.3%

Certificate

15.7%

< High School

15%

Bachelor's

12.8%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Facebook Google Android Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook

Other Tools

Customer database software Geographic information system GIS systems Materials inventory software Rate calculation software Unit conversion software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.6

Cautiousness

2.3

Dependability

2.2

Attention to Detail

1.7

Integrity

1.2

Stress Tolerance

1.2

Perseverance

1.0

Achievement Orientation

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Near Vision 3.5

Control Precision 3.4

Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.4

Oral Comprehension 3.3

Problem Sensitivity 3.3

Deductive Reasoning 3.3

Speech Recognition 3.3

Written Comprehension 3.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment 4.3

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings 4.2

Getting Information 4.1

Performing General Physical Activities 4.0

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events 4.0

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public 4.0

Handling and Moving Objects 4.0

Documenting/Recording Information 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

4.8

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

4.7

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection

4.7

Frequency of Decision Making

4.5

Exposed to Contaminants

4.4

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

4.4

Freedom to Make Decisions

4.3

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

4.2

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

4.2

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

4.2

Telephone Conversations

4.2

Time Pressure

4.2

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.