SOC 37-3012 · May 2025 · United States
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation across the United States is $46,340 per year, measured over 27,050 jobs. The highest state median is in Massachusetts, at $62,980.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +3.8%
- Openings per year
- 4,100
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Pay for this occupation varies by 140.2% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Massachusetts pays $62,980 and Louisiana pays $26,220.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $62,980 | — | |
| 2 | Delaware | $54,190 | 40 | |
| 3 | Oregon | $51,590 | 290 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | $51,240 | 60 | |
| 5 | North Dakota | $50,490 | 280 | |
| 6 | Ohio | $50,060 | 490 | |
| 7 | Wyoming | $49,190 | 120 | |
| 8 | Kansas | $49,090 | 520 | |
| 9 | Minnesota | $49,030 | 950 | |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $48,870 | 360 |
States with the most Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 4,530 | $45,210 | |
| 2 | California | 2,260 | $45,070 | |
| 3 | Georgia | 1,300 | $39,080 | |
| 4 | Illinois | 1,040 | $48,280 | |
| 5 | Colorado | 960 | $47,020 | |
| 6 | Indiana | 950 | $48,500 | |
| 7 | Minnesota | 950 | $49,030 | |
| 8 | Michigan | 860 | $44,460 | |
| 9 | Mississippi | 650 | $35,770 | |
| 10 | Montana | 630 | $37,760 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $62,990 | — |
| 2 | Portland | $58,550 | 100 |
| 3 | Columbus | $55,830 | 70 |
| 4 | Seattle | $54,530 | 110 |
| 5 | San Francisco | $54,420 | 100 |
| 6 | Cleveland | $51,640 | 50 |
| 7 | Boulder | $51,270 | — |
| 8 | Indianapolis | $51,220 | 330 |
| 9 | Cincinnati | $50,350 | 70 |
| 10 | Bend | $50,150 | 30 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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