All careers › Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Pesticide applicator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $35,570lowest 10% earn less
- $39,16025th percentile
- $46,340median
- $51,24075th percentile
- $61,420top 10% earn more
A pesticide applicator working on vegetation earned a median of $46,340 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 3,300[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do pesticide applicators make?
The BLS title is Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation. The median wage was $46,340 a year, or $22.28 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean wage was $47,070 a year, or $22.63 an hour[7].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,570, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $61,420[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[8]. By the hour, the 25th percentile was $18.83 and the 75th percentile was $24.63[9].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $35,570 | |
| 25th percentile[3] | $39,160 | |
| Median[1] | $46,340 | |
| 75th percentile[3] | $51,240 | |
| 90th percentile[3] | $61,420 |
The median for all occupations was $50,980, so this job's median sits below it[4][1]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Massachusetts had the highest state median at $62,980, followed by Delaware at $54,190 and Oregon at $51,590[11]. Louisiana had the lowest at $26,220[11].
The most jobs were in Florida (4,530), California (2,260) and Georgia (1,300)[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median at $58,550, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $54,530[13]. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area had the most jobs, at 870, with a median of $46,210[14].
Show median pay in 44 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts[11] | $62,980 | n/a |
| Delaware | $54,190 | 40 |
| Oregon | $51,590 | 290 |
| Hawaii | $51,240 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $50,490 | 280 |
| Ohio | $50,060 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $49,190 | 120 |
| Kansas | $49,090 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $49,030 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,870 | 360 |
| Arizona | $48,630 | 210 |
| Virginia | $48,610 | 240 |
| Indiana | $48,500 | 950 |
| New York | $48,380 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $48,360 | 100 |
| Illinois | $48,280 | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $48,240 | 360 |
| Nevada | $48,030 | 100 |
| Idaho | $47,630 | 610 |
| Nebraska | $47,500 | 380 |
| Washington | $47,360 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $47,340 | n/a |
| Colorado | $47,020 | 960 |
| Iowa | $46,740 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $46,320 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $46,190 | 540 |
| Utah | $45,430 | 360 |
| Florida | $45,210 | 4,530 |
| California | $45,070 | 2,260 |
| Missouri | $44,990 | 450 |
| Michigan | $44,460 | 860 |
| Maryland | $44,440 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $44,330 | 320 |
| Alabama | $43,440 | 320 |
| Maine | $40,200 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $39,380 | 290 |
| Georgia | $39,080 | 1,300 |
| New Mexico | $38,740 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $38,100 | 610 |
| Arkansas | $37,860 | 490 |
| Montana | $37,760 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $36,870 | 370 |
| Mississippi | $35,770 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $26,220 | 220 |
How to become a pesticide applicator
The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for training and licensing details covers grounds maintenance workers more widely[15].
- First: finish high school. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related work experience[6]. The wider profile says entry-level jobs often have no formal education requirement, though employers may prefer a diploma[16].
- Next: train on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. In the wider profile, pesticide handlers and applicators may need additional training lasting up to 1 year[17].
- Then: get licensed. In most states, people who apply pesticides must be licensed, and getting a license usually means passing a test on how to use and dispose of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides[18]. Check with your state's licensing official[18].
Professional certification is not required, but it can show competency and reliability to clients and employers[19].
What pesticide applicators do
These workers mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or insecticides on trees, shrubs, lawns or crops[20]. Typical tasks include:
- Filling sprayer tanks with water and chemicals according to formulas[21]
- Recording what was applied and how much[21]
- Running sprayer pumps and portable spray equipment[21]
- Aiming nozzles and hoses over the designated areas[21]
- Planning driving routes for applications[21]
- Cleaning and servicing machinery[21]
- Identifying lawn or plant diseases to choose a treatment[21]
Where they work
For the wider group of grounds maintenance workers, the work is usually outdoors in all kinds of weather and can be physically demanding[22]. People who apply chemicals must wear protective gear, including clothing, gloves, goggles and sometimes respirators[23]. The largest employer group was services to buildings and dwellings, at 48%[24].
Most work full time, and schedules may vary. Work can be busier in spring, summer and fall[25]. Some jobs are seasonal[26]. About 4.4% of workers in this occupation were self-employed in 2025[27].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][28]. Those counts include self-employed workers[2].
About 3,300 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.1% of workers leave the labor force and 9% move to a different occupation[29].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest a job that asks for a high school diploma and on-the-job training rather than a degree[6]. Licensing is required in most states for people who apply pesticides[18]. Pay is a little below the all-occupations median[1][4], and projected growth is slightly above the all-occupations rate[2][28]. The work is mostly outdoors and calls for protective gear[22][23].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a pesticide applicator make an hour?
- The median was $22.28 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $22.63[1][7].
- Do you need a license to be a pesticide applicator?
- In most states, people who apply pesticides must be licensed, usually by passing a test on how to use and dispose of the chemicals[18].
- What is the highest paying state for pesticide applicators?
- Massachusetts, with a median of $62,980, followed by Delaware at $54,190[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the US was $46,340 per year and $22.28 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 25,700 to 26,700 jobs (a change of +1,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: 10th percentile $35,570, 25th percentile $39,160, 75th percentile $51,240, 90th percentile $61,420. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 3,300 openings for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation was $47,070 per year and $22.63 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: 10th percentile $17.10, 25th percentile $18.83, 75th percentile $24.63, 90th percentile $29.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation jobs: Florida 4,530; California 2,260; Georgia 1,300; Illinois 1,040; Colorado 960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (areas with at least 100 jobs): Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,550; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $54,530; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,420; Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $51,220; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,150; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,550; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,860; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $48,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation jobs: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 870 (median $46,210); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 440 (median $41,390); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 430 (median $50,150); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 430 (median $48,140); Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 330 (median $51,220); Boise City, ID 320 (median $47,630). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Grounds Maintenance Workers" covers Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of grounds maintenance workers in 2025: Services to buildings and dwellings 48%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 4.4% of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.