Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Career, Salary and Skills

Occupation 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.

National salary and employment

Top skills

Typical tasks

• Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
• Record information about pesticide applications, such as the type used and amount applied.
• Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
• Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
• Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
• Establish driving routes for pesticide applications.
• Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
• Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.

Technology

• Customer database software
• Facebook
• Geographic information system GIS systems
• Google Android
• Materials inventory software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Rate calculation software
• Unit conversion software

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in FL
  Median $45,210 · Employment 4,530
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in CA
  Median $45,070 · Employment 2,260
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in GA
  Median $39,080 · Employment 1,300
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in IL
  Median $48,280 · Employment 1,040
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in CO
  Median $47,020 · Employment 960
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in MN
  Median $49,030 · Employment 950
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in IN
  Median $48,500 · Employment 950
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in Miami, FL
  Median $46,210 · Employment 870
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in MI
  Median $44,460 · Employment 860
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in MS
  Median $35,770 · Employment 650
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in MT
  Median $37,760 · Employment 630
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salary in SC
  Median $38,100 · Employment 610

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