Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary by state
What Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetations do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningTime ManagementSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay by experience level
Entry level$37,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$40,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$48,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$53,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$63,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,100
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary by industry
Administrative and Support Services
15,770 workers
$48,000
Services to Buildings and Dwellings
15,400 workers
$48,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
5,010 workers
$51,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)
4,520 workers
$51,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,120 workers
$52,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,050 workers
$52,000
Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry
2,030 workers
$45,000
Support Activities for Crop Production
2,020 workers
$45,000
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
520 workers
$48,500
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
520 workers
$48,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pays 2% below the average across 10 roles in the Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance job family (family average $49,500).
Similar-paying roles in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation make?
The average base salary for a Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the United States is $48,500 per year, or about $23.32 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $40,500 and $53,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance roles?
The Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance job family averages $49,500 across 10 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
