Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations · 27K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$46,340
Median hourly
$22
Average annual
$47,070
Typical range
$35,570–$61,420
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is $46,340 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $22 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $35,570 and $61,420 a year. There are roughly 27K people employed as pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
- Hourly
- $22.28
- Daily
- $178
- Weekly
- $891
- Bi-weekly
- $1,782
- Monthly
- $3,862
- Annual
- $46,340
$46,340 a year is around the 50th percentile for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetations. The median is $46,340.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$62,980
- 2Delaware$54,190
- 3Oregon$51,590
- 4Hawaii$51,240
- 5North Dakota$50,490
- 6Ohio$50,060
- 7Wyoming$49,190
- 8Kansas$49,090
- 9Minnesota$49,030
- 10Pennsylvania$48,870
- 11Arizona$48,630
- 12Virginia$48,610
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$62,990
- 2Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$58,550
- 3Columbus, OH$55,830
- 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$54,530
- 5San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$54,420
- 6Cleveland, OH$51,640
- 7Boulder, CO$51,270
- 8Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$51,220
- 9Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$50,350
- 10Bend, OR$50,150
- 11Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$50,150
- 12Champaign-Urbana, IL$49,740
Related job titles
Employers advertise Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation roles under these titles.
- Agricultural Service Worker
- Applicator
- Applicator Sprayer
- Certified Pesticide Applicator
- Commercial Lawn Specialist
- Crop Applicator
- Eradicator
- Fruit Sprayer
- Herbicide Sprayer
- Hydro-Sprayer Operator
- Integrated Pest Management Technician (IPM Technician)
- Knapsack Sprayer
- Lawn and Garden Technician
- Lawn Care Specialist
- Lawn Specialist
- Lawn Spray Technician
Related occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$39,150
- Agricultural Equipment Operators$41,730
- Pest Control Workers$45,250
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250
- Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120
What a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation does
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- 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.
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation make?
- The median annual wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is $46,340 ($22 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,570 at the 10th percentile to $61,420 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $47,070, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetations the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $62,980.
- Is Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 27K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation do?
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.; 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..