SOC 37-3012.00

    Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

    Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops.

    Median pay
    $46,340
    Growth
    +3.9%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    3,300
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,570
    Median
    $46,340
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $61,420
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    27,050 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators treat vegetation with chemicals to control pests, weeds, and diseases. They earn a median annual pay of $46,340 and typically need a high school diploma to enter the field.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Workers in this field mix and apply chemical treatments like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. They use sprays, dusts, vapors, or soil incorporation to protect trees, shrubs, lawns, and crops. Day-to-day activities require performing general physical tasks, handling materials, and operating vehicles or specialized application equipment.

    These professionals must carefully inspect their equipment and monitor processes to ensure safety. They gather information on plant conditions, schedule their treatment activities, and document all chemical applications to meet regulatory standards. This job appeals to individuals with realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work. Success in this role relies on strong attention to detail, cautiousness, dependability, and stress tolerance. Workers utilize skills in operations monitoring, critical thinking, and judgment to apply chemicals safely. They also draw on knowledge of chemistry, biology, public safety, and customer service to interact with clients and protect the surrounding environment.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. Most workers prepare for the job through some on-the-job training or prior experience. For those pursuing higher education, college majors in Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services provide relevant preparation.

    Because handling chemical treatments is highly regulated, specific training is usually necessary. Workers can earn professional credentials, such as the Certified IPM Technician certification from the Entomological Society of America Certification Corporation. Additionally, state or federal certification is typically required for chemical application, and some states list specific licensing requirements for this line of work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these workers is $46,340. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $35,570 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $61,420.

    There are 27,050 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.9 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth and normal turnover are expected to result in 3,300 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    92 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    29 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    16 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    7 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    45 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    84
    Scheduling Work and Activities
    82
    Documenting/Recording Information
    79
    Performing General Physical Activities
    75
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    74
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    74
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    72
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    70
    Handling and Moving Objects
    69
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    68
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Time Management
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Operation and Control
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Coordination
    • Speaking

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Chemistry
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Biology
    • Production and Processing
    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Mathematics

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Control Precision
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Trunk Strength
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Far Vision

    Work styles

    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Control
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Applicator · Applicator Sprayer · Certified Pesticide Applicator · Chemical Applicator · Crop Applicator · Custom Applicator · Eradicator · Fertilizer Applicator · Fruit Sprayer · Garden Technician (Garden Tech)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$46,340 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah logo
      Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah

      Provo, UT · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $49,925
      4 yrs after
      $71,066
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2
      Colorado State University-Fort Collins

      Fort Collins, CO · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $57,269
      4 yrs after
      $66,984
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3University of Nebraska-Lincoln Main Campus logo
      University of Nebraska-Lincoln Main Campus

      Lincoln, NE · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $52,966
      4 yrs after
      $59,376
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $39,805
      4 yrs after
      $54,128
      Median debt
      $19,250
    5. 5Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College logo
      Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

      Tifton, GA · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,897
      4 yrs after
      $52,757
      Median debt
      $18,750
    6. 6University of Rhode Island URI logo
      University of Rhode Island URI

      Kingston, RI · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $48,403
      Median debt
      $16,668
    7. 7
      Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

      Carbondale, IL · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $45,177
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Brigham Young University-Idaho logo
      Brigham Young University-Idaho

      Rexburg, ID · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $30,584
      4 yrs after
      $39,752
      Median debt
      $12,115

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Landscaping and Groundskeeping
    • Plant Nursery Operations and Management
    • Turf and Turfgrass Management

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    34 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are also known as applicators, certified pesticide applicators, chemical applicators, crop applicators, custom applicators, eradicators, fertilizer applicators, fruit sprayers, and garden technicians.

    Do I need a college degree to work in this field?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma is the standard entry-level education, though some workers choose to study related majors like Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services.

    Are there professional certifications available for pesticide handlers?

    Yes, workers can obtain the Certified IPM Technician credential through the Entomological Society of America Certification Corporation. State or federal certification is also usually required, and some states list specific licenses.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.