37 Series · SOC 37-3012

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$46,340
Median / year
+2.5%
2024→2025
$61,420
Top 10% earn
+3.8%
Growth '24–'34
27,050
Estimated US jobs

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earn a median of $46,340 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,340, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,570 (10th percentile) to $61,420 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 27,050 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Massachusetts ($62,980).

37 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation earn a median of $46,340, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 23% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance, it ranks #5 of 10 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% by 2034.

$46,340
Median annual wage
Top 77%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#5 of 10
in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
1.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $62,980. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation moved from $35,840 in May 2019 to $46,340 in May 2025 (+29.3%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation sits +4.8 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (SOC 37-3012) has a national median of $46,340 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,570 to $61,420, and the published mean is $47,070. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 27,050 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 44 state or territory areas and 170 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $45,200 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $46,340 in May 2025, a rise of $1,140 (+2.5%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 4,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $62,980, which is +36% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $62,990. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 27,050 jobs Median $46,340/yr

Median Salary

$46,340

per year

Median Hourly

$22.28/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$47,070

average

Employment

27,050

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$46,340 Bottom 23% higher than 23% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$46,340 · 23rd percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 37-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 10 37-series occupations with growth data, Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation sits on the slower-growing side at +3.8% growth and $46,340 median pay. Scatter plot of 10 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000 0%1%2%3%4%5%6% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Janitors and Cleaner… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2% · Median annual wage: $36840Janitors and Cleaner…Landscaping and Grou… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.6% · Median annual wage: $39150Landscaping and Grou…Maids and Housekeepi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.4% · Median annual wage: $35510Maids and Housekeepi…First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $49100First-Line Superviso…First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.3% · Median annual wage: $58430First-Line Superviso…Pest Control Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $45250Pest Control WorkersTree Trimmers and Pr… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $50960Tree Trimmers and Pr…Pesticide Handlers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $46340Pesticide Handlers, …Building Cleaning Wo… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $44040Building Cleaning Wo…Grounds Maintenance … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.4% · Median annual wage: $46860Grounds Maintenance …
Among 10 37-series occupations with growth data, Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation sits on the slower-growing side at +3.8% growth and $46,340 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Janitors and Cleaner…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $36840
  • Landscaping and Grou…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $39150
  • Maids and Housekeepi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.4%, Median annual wage $35510
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $49100
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $58430
  • Pest Control Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $45250
  • Tree Trimmers and Pr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $50960
  • Pesticide Handlers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $46340
  • Building Cleaning Wo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $44040
  • Grounds Maintenance …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.4%, Median annual wage $46860

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+3.8%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

4,100

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+1,100

29,600 (2024) → 30,700 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

6.2/100K

Injury Rate

2.8/100

Danger Index

14.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.3
Speaking 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Time Management 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Operations Monitoring 3.0
Operation and Control 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Biology 3.5
Production and Processing 3.5
English Language 3.5
Administration and Management 3.4
Public Safety and Security 3.1
Education and Training 3.1
Mathematics 3.1
Law and Government 3.1
Transportation 3.0

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
  • Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.
  • Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
  • Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
  • Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$35,570
25th$39,160
Median$46,340
75th$51,240
90th$61,420

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$17.10
25th$18.83
Median$22.28
75th$24.63
90th$29.53

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $32,540National median - 2016: $33,740National median - 2017: $34,830National median - 2018: $35,320National median - 2019: $35,840National median - 2020: $36,630National median - 2021: $38,270National median - 2022: $41,440National median - 2023: $44,070National median - 2024: $45,200National median - 2025: $46,340$46,340
National median annual wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $32,540
2016 $33,740
2017 $34,830
2018 $35,320
2019 $35,840
2020 $36,630
2021 $38,270
2022 $41,440
2023 $44,070
2024 $45,200
2025 $46,340

2015 median

$32,540

2025 median

$46,340

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,500 (+29.3%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.4%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $32,540 First banked release 24,200
May 2016 $33,740 +3.7% 25,230
May 2017 $34,830 +3.2% 25,900
May 2018 $35,320 +1.4% 24,500
May 2019 $35,840 Classification break 25,780
May 2020 $36,630 +2.2% 23,950
May 2021 $38,270 +4.5% 25,820
May 2022 $41,440 +8.3% 22,740
May 2023 $44,070 +6.3% 23,520
May 2024 $45,200 +2.6% 25,200
May 2025 $46,340 +2.5% 27,050

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $32,540 in May 2015 to $46,340 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 25,780 in May 2019 to 27,050 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 44 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Massachusetts $62,980 +36% above national
2 Delaware $54,190 +17% above national
3 Oregon $51,590 +11% above national
4 Hawaii $51,240 +11% above national
5 North Dakota $50,490 +9% above national
6 Ohio $50,060 +8% above national
7 Wyoming $49,190 +6% above national
8 Kansas $49,090 +6% above national
9 Minnesota $49,030 +6% above national
10 Pennsylvania $48,870 +5% above national
11 Arizona $48,630 +5% above national
12 Virginia $48,610 +5% above national
13 Indiana $48,500 +5% above national
14 New York $48,380 +4% above national
15 Rhode Island $48,360 +4% above national
16 Illinois $48,280 +4% above national
17 North Carolina $48,240 +4% above national
18 Nevada $48,030 +4% above national
19 Idaho $47,630 +3% above national
20 Nebraska $47,500 +3% above national
21 Washington $47,360 +2% above national
22 Tennessee $47,340 +2% above national
23 Colorado $47,020 +1% above national
24 Iowa $46,740 +1% above national
25 South Dakota $46,320 same as national
26 Wisconsin $46,190 same as national
27 Utah $45,430 2% below national
28 Florida $45,210 2% below national
29 California $45,070 3% below national
30 Missouri $44,990 3% below national
31 Michigan $44,460 4% below national
32 Maryland $44,440 4% below national
33 New Jersey $44,330 4% below national
34 Alabama $43,440 6% below national
35 Maine $40,200 13% below national
36 Kentucky $39,380 15% below national
37 Georgia $39,080 16% below national
38 New Mexico $38,740 16% below national
39 South Carolina $38,100 18% below national
40 Arkansas $37,860 18% below national
41 Montana $37,760 19% below national
42 Oklahoma $36,870 20% below national
43 Mississippi $35,770 23% below national
44 Louisiana $26,220 43% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 115 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $62,990 +36% above national
2 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,550 +26% above national
3 Columbus, OH $55,830 +20% above national
4 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $54,530 +18% above national
5 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,420 +17% above national
6 Cleveland, OH $51,640 +11% above national
7 Boulder, CO $51,270 +11% above national
8 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $51,220 +11% above national
9 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $50,350 +9% above national
10 Bend, OR $50,150 +8% above national
11 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,150 +8% above national
12 Champaign-Urbana, IL $49,740 +7% above national
13 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $49,600 +7% above national
14 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,550 +7% above national
15 Rochester, MN $49,550 +7% above national
16 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $49,550 +7% above national
17 Raleigh-Cary, NC $49,060 +6% above national
18 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $49,040 +6% above national
19 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,860 +5% above national
20 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $48,360 +4% above national
21 Kansas City, MO-KS $48,350 +4% above national
22 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $48,290 +4% above national
23 Omaha, NE-IA $48,160 +4% above national
24 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $48,140 +4% above national
25 St. Louis, MO-IL $47,930 +3% above national
26 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $47,880 +3% above national
27 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $47,770 +3% above national
28 Cedar Rapids, IA $47,710 +3% above national
29 Boise City, ID $47,630 +3% above national
30 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $47,560 +3% above national
31 Wilmington, NC $47,480 +2% above national
32 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,430 +2% above national
33 Grand Forks, ND-MN $47,320 +2% above national
34 Idaho Falls, ID $47,320 +2% above national
35 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $47,310 +2% above national
36 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $47,260 +2% above national
37 Twin Falls, ID $47,230 +2% above national
38 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $47,100 +2% above national
39 Wichita, KS $47,010 +1% above national
40 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $46,930 +1% above national
41 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $46,900 +1% above national
42 Fort Wayne, IN $46,860 +1% above national
43 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $46,800 +1% above national
44 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $46,680 +1% above national
45 Springfield, MO $46,630 +1% above national
46 Fargo, ND-MN $46,390 same as national
47 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $46,310 same as national
48 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $46,280 same as national
49 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $46,210 same as national
50 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $46,110 same as national
51 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $46,090 1% below national
52 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $46,000 1% below national
53 Naples-Marco Island, FL $45,880 1% below national
54 Kennewick-Richland, WA $45,690 1% below national
55 Topeka, KS $45,670 1% below national
56 Peoria, IL $45,610 2% below national
57 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $45,550 2% below national
58 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $45,290 2% below national
59 Ogden, UT $45,160 3% below national
60 Pittsburgh, PA $45,070 3% below national
61 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $44,950 3% below national
62 Stockton-Lodi, CA $44,890 3% below national
63 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $44,820 3% below national
64 Punta Gorda, FL $44,790 3% below national
65 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $44,690 4% below national
66 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $44,630 4% below national
67 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $44,440 4% below national
68 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $44,420 4% below national
69 Madison, WI $44,280 4% below national
70 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $43,920 5% below national
71 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $43,900 5% below national
72 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $43,840 5% below national
73 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $43,680 6% below national
74 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $43,680 6% below national
75 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $43,560 6% below national
76 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $43,160 7% below national
77 Jacksonville, FL $43,010 7% below national
78 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $42,890 7% below national
79 Greeley, CO $42,670 8% below national
80 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $42,610 8% below national
81 Columbia, SC $42,510 8% below national
82 Bozeman, MT $42,180 9% below national
83 Salinas, CA $41,540 10% below national
84 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $41,390 11% below national
85 Albuquerque, NM $41,290 11% below national
86 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $41,140 11% below national
87 Yakima, WA $40,880 12% below national
88 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $40,750 12% below national
89 Modesto, CA $40,560 12% below national
90 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $40,490 13% below national
91 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $40,390 13% below national
92 Fresno, CA $39,940 14% below national
93 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $39,440 15% below national
94 Jonesboro, AR $39,280 15% below national
95 Rapid City, SD $39,280 15% below national
96 Grand Island, NE $39,160 15% below national
97 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $38,910 16% below national
98 Gainesville, FL $38,890 16% below national
99 Visalia, CA $38,720 16% below national
100 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $38,580 17% below national
101 Ocala, FL $38,500 17% below national
102 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $38,420 17% below national
103 Missoula, MT $38,260 17% below national
104 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $37,800 18% below national
105 Tallahassee, FL $37,670 19% below national
106 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $36,840 21% below national
107 Billings, MT $36,630 21% below national
108 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $36,470 21% below national
109 Oklahoma City, OK $36,460 21% below national
110 Great Falls, MT $36,290 22% below national
111 Jackson, MS $35,320 24% below national
112 Port St. Lucie, FL $35,220 24% below national
113 Saginaw, MI $33,630 27% below national
114 Baton Rouge, LA $32,580 30% below national
115 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $26,220 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 37 (Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 9 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($46,340 here) and reported employment (27,050 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation make?
The median annual salary for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is $46,340 ($22.28/hour). The salary range spans from $35,570 at the 10th percentile to $61,420 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $46,340, Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay is higher than 23% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation the most?
Massachusetts pays the highest median salary for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation at $62,980/year, which is +36% above the national median.
What education do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation need?
BLS assigns Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in this release. WageDex shows the Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation a good career?
Employment for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is projected to grow 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 4,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay vary by state?
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $62,980/year, while Louisiana pays the least at $26,220/year. BLS data covers 44 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $62,990/year. BLS reports a median for 115 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $51,240/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $62,980/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.