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. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification.
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. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification. The role reports a median annual salary of $45,200 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Operation and Control.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £28,323 a year for Pest control officers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 6121). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
What you'd actually do
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- 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.
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does 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.
How much does Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation earn?
The median annual salary for Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the US is $45,200.
What is the job outlook for Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 29,600 workers.
How do I become pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
Our AI-durability model gives Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.