37
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is a notable career in the 37 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
Education Administrators, All Other
11
Personal Service Managers, All Other
11
Managers, All Other
11
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
13
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
13
| soc | 37-3012 |
| title | Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation |
| onet code | 37-3012.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 37 |
| tot emp | 25,200 |
| a mean | 45,960 |
| a median | 45,200 |
| a pct10 | 34,590 |
| a pct25 | 38,040 |
| a pct75 | 50,960 |
| a pct90 | 58,910 |
| h mean | 22 |
| h median | 21 |
The day-to-day work of a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation typically centers on mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.06 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (56.3%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 13% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Massachusetts at $59,550 and lowest in Oklahoma at $32,040 — a 1.9× spread. The top five states (Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Hawaii, Oregon) average $53,068. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $59,550 | $60,100 | $48,670 | $79,860 | — |
| New Jersey | $55,680 | $52,740 | $39,840 | $55,680 | 680 |
| North Dakota | $50,670 | $51,480 | $42,960 | $60,320 | 300 |
| Hawaii | $50,040 | $49,660 | $38,100 | $65,080 | 60 |
| Oregon | $49,400 | $51,550 | $44,920 | $58,720 | 340 |
| New York | $49,390 | $51,690 | $31,740 | $66,680 | 190 |
| New Mexico | $49,070 | $50,840 | $37,570 | $64,510 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,840 | $47,030 | $37,190 | $56,170 | 340 |
| Washington | $48,570 | $51,130 | $42,230 | $60,890 | 750 |
| Virginia | $48,400 | $51,790 | $39,000 | $68,840 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 | $48,050 | $36,950 | $59,240 | 1,440 |
| Ohio | $47,890 | $46,510 | $35,750 | $58,890 | 730 |
| Wyoming | $47,620 | $49,680 | $40,240 | $61,640 | 210 |
| Indiana | $47,540 | $47,240 | $36,330 | $58,240 | 1,230 |
| Delaware | $47,430 | $43,070 | $29,170 | $56,970 | — |
| Illinois | $47,410 | $47,960 | $36,930 | $58,320 | 1,240 |
| North Carolina | $47,370 | $46,320 | $37,180 | $54,690 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $47,250 | $48,780 | $43,670 | $52,990 | 70 |
| Michigan | $46,940 | $47,830 | $40,210 | $55,290 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $46,850 | $38,890 | $49,000 | 200 |
| Kansas | $46,470 | $46,240 | $34,560 | $57,590 | 410 |
| Colorado | $46,040 | $49,680 | $39,520 | $65,680 | 890 |
| Arizona | $45,880 | $47,300 | $40,310 | $57,600 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $45,650 | $45,330 | $35,910 | $56,230 | 690 |
| Texas | $45,530 | $47,290 | $30,790 | $66,450 | 1,140 |
| Maryland | $45,250 | $46,330 | $39,990 | $53,410 | 100 |
| Alabama | $44,890 | $43,820 | $33,850 | $52,050 | 130 |
| California | $44,540 | $49,140 | $36,400 | $76,930 | 1,930 |
| Idaho | $44,100 | $44,050 | $33,840 | $58,560 | 450 |
| Nebraska | $44,090 | $46,900 | $37,810 | $60,240 | 380 |
| Wisconsin | $42,950 | $45,430 | $40,970 | $57,020 | — |
| Kentucky | $41,890 | $41,660 | $33,850 | $48,800 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $41,320 | $41,750 | $32,820 | $52,010 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $40,720 | $40,220 | $28,460 | $49,230 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $40,470 | $37,230 | $22,420 | $48,920 | 530 |
| Florida | $40,240 | $42,710 | $32,290 | $57,160 | 4,420 |
| Nevada | $40,170 | $42,620 | $31,970 | $59,290 | — |
| Missouri | $39,270 | $40,590 | $34,760 | $46,380 | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $38,720 | $42,570 | $38,720 | $46,820 | — |
| Iowa | $38,480 | $41,090 | $36,220 | $48,030 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $38,340 | $42,500 | $30,180 | $59,980 | 220 |
| Utah | $38,180 | $40,160 | $30,070 | $51,150 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $38,030 | $42,450 | $36,040 | $55,680 | — |
| Montana | $37,960 | $40,310 | $31,140 | $52,140 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $36,860 | $37,680 | $32,950 | $44,540 | 40 |
| Georgia | $35,750 | $37,740 | $31,410 | $45,310 | 660 |
| Oklahoma | $32,040 | $32,770 | $24,940 | $40,970 | 240 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Agricultural Service Worker or Applicator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation compares to others in the 37 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.