Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators for vegetation work in a hands-on, technically focused career that combines physical activity with applied science and problem solving. Nationally, about 30,000 people are employed in this occupation, with a projected employment growth rate of 3.8%. This field is accessible to many job seekers because the typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, while still drawing on a broad mix of skills such as science, mechanical aptitude, customer service, and project management. The role also emphasizes physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, attention to detail, and solid decision-making. With an estimated 4,000 annual openings, there is consistent movement into and within the field. Individuals considering this path can also explore related options such as miscellaneous construction and related workers, control and valve installers and repairers, automotive and watercraft service attendants, log graders and scalers, and transportation workers, all other, as alternative career directions.
Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation earn a national median annual salary of $45,200. Within this overall picture, there are notable differences by location. At the state level, median salaries range from $45,070 in California to $48,610 in Virginia, with New York, Colorado, and Washington also falling in the mid- to upper-$40,000s. Metro areas show an even wider spread. For example, the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area reports a median salary of $54,420, and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is similar at $54,530. Other metros, such as Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, offer median salaries around the mid-to-upper $40,000s, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area is somewhat lower at $43,680. These figures indicate that earnings can vary meaningfully depending on where you work within this occupation.
This occupation employs about 30,000 pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators for vegetation across the country. The projected employment growth rate is 3.8%, suggesting that demand is expected to increase over time. In addition to growth, the occupation is characterized by substantial ongoing hiring activity, with an estimated 4,000 annual openings. This combination of existing employment, projected growth, and yearly openings points to a labor market with regular opportunities for new entrants as well as for experienced workers seeking new positions. The consistent 3.8% growth figure also appears across multiple highlighted states and metro areas, indicating that expectations for expansion are not limited to a single region. For individuals considering a practical, skill-based role that does not require education beyond a high school diploma or equivalent, this outlook suggests a reasonably steady flow of opportunities to enter and advance within the field.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation. Among states, California stands out with 2,260 employed workers and a median salary of $45,070, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Virginia show higher median salaries—$48,380 and $48,610 respectively—but smaller employment levels of 220 and 240. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries just above $47,000, with Colorado employing 960 workers and Washington 470. All of these top states share the same 3.8% projected growth rate, so differences in opportunity scores reflect variations in pay, employment levels, and other factors summarized in those scores. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead on opportunity score, both above 77, though New York’s median pay is lower at $43,680. San Francisco and Seattle metros stand out for median salaries above $54,000, while Los Angeles offers a mid-range salary and the largest metro employment among the listed areas.
The typical education requirement for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a career that is accessible without a college degree. While the formal education barrier is relatively modest, success in this occupation draws on a diverse set of skills. Key strengths include science and mathematics, which support understanding and applying technical concepts. Mechanical skills and fine motor abilities are also important, alongside physical strength and stamina for the demands of the work environment. This career further emphasizes customer service, leadership, and project management, highlighting the importance of working with others and organizing tasks effectively. Being detail oriented and strong in problem solving and decision making rounds out the profile, helping workers handle situations accurately and safely. People who build this combination of technical, physical, and interpersonal skills can be well positioned to enter and grow in this field with only a high school-level educational background.
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