Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary: $50,537 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 25,200 pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation nationally earn a mean of $50,537. Employment in the series shown fell about 17% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 2.2% annual growth.
Key Statistics
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: what the data shows
Common questions about pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 37-3012.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 25,200 workers.
What does a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Getting Information, Performing General Physical Activities, Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make?
BLS national median annual wage: $45,200 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $50,537 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,435 |
| 25th percentile | $38,371 |
| Median (50th) | $45,806 |
| 75th percentile | $53,993 |
| 90th percentile | $79,117 |
What education do you need?
For Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Speaking, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, and knowledge areas including Customer and Personal Service, Biology, Production and Processing, English Language. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 2.2% annual growth (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: 11.3%.
Ten-year projected employment change: 24.0%.
Current U.S. headcount: 25,200.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetations work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 25,200 | 17.9% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 23,300 | 16.5% |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 15,590 | 11.1% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 15,560 | 11.0% |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 15,280 | 10.8% |
| Landscaping Services | 12,210 | 8.7% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation workforce.
Employment Over Time
25,200 Workforce in 2023
The Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$50,537 Average Wage
In 2023, Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earned an average of $50,537.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Salary distribution for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Employment Growth Projections
2.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
7,348 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: 11.3%
8,181 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: 24.0%
This occupation is projected to grow at 2.2% annually, indicating strong future demand.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Wage Trends by Industry
-9.4% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- FL: 4,420 employees, $42,710 avg wage
- CA: 1,930 employees, $49,140 avg wage
- MN: 1,440 employees, $48,050 avg wage
- IL: 1,240 employees, $47,960 avg wage
- IN: 1,230 employees, $47,240 avg wage
- TX: 1,140 employees, $47,290 avg wage
- CO: 890 employees, $49,680 avg wage
- WA: 750 employees, $51,130 avg wage
- OH: 730 employees, $46,510 avg wage
- SD: 690 employees, $45,330 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: 1,120 employees, $43,190 avg wage
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: 580 employees, $42,510 avg wage
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 560 employees, $55,450 avg wage
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL: 510 employees, $43,510 avg wage
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN: 480 employees, $50,420 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 410 employees, $50,600 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 400 employees, $56,250 avg wage
- Jacksonville, FL: 300 employees, $42,780 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 280 employees, $45,860 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 270 employees, $44,980 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Diversity
Demographic information on Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in 2023 was 25,200 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in 2023 were Business Administration, Business, Social Sciences.
Common majors for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation workers.
Education level distribution for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Skills
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Speaking, Operation and Control.
Required skills for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation include Customer and Personal Service, Biology, Production and Processing, English Language, Administration and Management.
Knowledge areas required for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation include Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Control Precision, Problem Sensitivity, Oral Comprehension.
Required abilities for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
Daily Activities
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation spend their time on activities such as Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings, Getting Information, Performing General Physical Activities, Performing for or Working Directly with the Public.
Most important work activities for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.
About
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
The average yearly wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation was $50,537 in 2023.
SOC Code
37-3012 - Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation reports an average salary of $50,537.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 25,200 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual growth is 2.2%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.