What do they 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.

Also known as:

Applicator, Chemical Applicator, Integrated Pest Management Technician (IPM Technician), Lawn Care Specialist, Lawn Specialist, Lawn Technician, Licensed Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Technician, Pesticide Applicator, Spray Applicator, Spray Technician, Sprayer, Tree and Shrub Technician

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is projected to grow 3 percent from 2020 to 2030, more slowly than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • 3.4%

    Change

    Ranks #36 in job growth rate
    80

    Job Openings

    Ranks #25 in net job growth

Colleges with the most graduates that become Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (1%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (15%)
  • Associate's degree  (7%)
  • Some college, no degree  (19%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (34%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (22%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Select Type of Degree:

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Prepare chemicals for work application.
  • Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances.
  • Inspect landscaping to determine treatment needs.
  • Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Clean equipment or supplies.
  • Maintain equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Instruct staff in work policies or procedures.
  • Plant greenery to improve landscape appearance.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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