How to become a pesticide handler, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

Q: How do I become a pesticide handler, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?

The typical entry-level education is usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..

Q: How much does a pesticide handler, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make?

The median pay in the United States is $46,340 a year (BLS 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.

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.Typical entry-level education

$46,340Median pay a year

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

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.

Skills that matter most

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Mathematics

Is pesticide handler, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 9% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

Delaware $54,190
Oregon $51,590
Hawaii $51,240
North Dakota $50,490
Ohio $50,060

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.