Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

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:

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

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in United States

Job Outlook Average

New job opportunities are likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

30,700

4% Change From 2024

Explore Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
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.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
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.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Average Education Attained

Highest level of education earned by people in this career.

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