Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary in the U.S.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the U.S. earn a median of $46,340 a year ($22.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,420 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $47,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 25th percentile | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Median | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| 75th percentile | $51,240 | $24.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Average (mean) | $47,070 | $22.63 |
Half of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,861.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,930.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,782.31 |
| Weekly | $891.15 |
| Hourly | $22.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,340 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $62,980 | n/a |
| Delaware | $54,190 | 40 |
| Oregon | $51,590 | 290 |
| Hawaii | $51,240 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $50,490 | 280 |
| Ohio | $50,060 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $49,190 | 120 |
| Kansas | $49,090 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $49,030 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,870 | 360 |
| Arizona | $48,630 | 210 |
| Virginia | $48,610 | 240 |
| Indiana | $48,500 | 950 |
| New York | $48,380 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $48,360 | 100 |
| Illinois | $48,280 | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $48,240 | 360 |
| Nevada | $48,030 | 100 |
| Idaho | $47,630 | 610 |
| Nebraska | $47,500 | 380 |
| Washington | $47,360 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $47,340 | n/a |
| Colorado | $47,020 | 960 |
| Iowa | $46,740 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $46,320 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $46,190 | 540 |
| Utah | $45,430 | 360 |
| Florida | $45,210 | 4,530 |
| California | $45,070 | 2,260 |
| Missouri | $44,990 | 450 |
| Michigan | $44,460 | 860 |
| Maryland | $44,440 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $44,330 | 320 |
| Alabama | $43,440 | 320 |
| Maine | $40,200 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $39,380 | 290 |
| Georgia | $39,080 | 1,300 |
| New Mexico | $38,740 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $38,100 | 610 |
| Arkansas | $37,860 | 490 |
| Montana | $37,760 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $36,870 | 370 |
| Mississippi | $35,770 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $26,220 | 220 |
Best-paying metro areas for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,990 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $58,550 | 100 |
| Columbus, OH | $55,830 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,530 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,420 | 100 |
| Cleveland, OH | $51,640 | 50 |
| Boulder, CO | $51,270 | n/a |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $51,220 | 330 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $50,350 | 70 |
| Bend, OR | $50,150 | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $50,150 | 430 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $49,740 | 40 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,600 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,550 | 280 |
| Rochester, MN | $49,550 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 870 | $46,210 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 440 | $41,390 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 430 | $50,150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 430 | $48,140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 330 | $51,220 |
| Boise City, ID | 320 | $47,630 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 320 | $47,560 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 280 | $49,550 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 250 | $43,010 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 240 | $43,680 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 230 | $46,680 |
| Salinas, CA | 220 | $41,540 |
| Fresno, CA | 200 | $39,940 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 200 | $46,280 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 190 | $43,680 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Tree Trimmers and Pruners | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $58,430 | $28.09 |
| Pest Control Worker | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Building Cleaning Workers, All Other | $44,040 | $21.17 |
More: Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 37-3012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make in the U.S.?
The median salary for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the U.S. is $46,340 a year, or $22.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the U.S. earn at least $61,420 a year. The top 25% earn $51,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,570 a year, and a quarter of pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation earn $39,160 or less.
How many pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation work in the U.S.?
About 27,050 pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.