Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetations across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $47,070 ≈ $23/hr
National median salary $46,340
Total employment 27,050 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +3.8%
About as fast as average
Annual openings 4,100 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 29,600 → 30,700 (+1,100)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Massachusetts$63,180
- Oregon$55,730
- Nevada$54,680
- New York$52,520
- North Dakota$52,490
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Louisiana$34,600
- Oklahoma$38,240
- South Carolina$39,280
- New Mexico$40,210
- Montana$41,070
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $63,180 | $62,980 | $30 | +34.2% | — |
| 2 | Oregon | $55,730 | $51,590 | $27 | +18.4% | 290 |
| 3 | Nevada | $54,680 | $48,030 | $26 | +16.2% | 100 |
| 4 | New York | $52,520 | $48,380 | $25 | +11.6% | 220 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $52,490 | $50,490 | $25 | +11.5% | 280 |
| 6 | Colorado | $52,340 | $47,020 | $25 | +11.2% | 960 |
| 7 | Delaware | $51,440 | $54,190 | $25 | +9.3% | 40 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $51,060 | $48,360 | $25 | +8.5% | 100 |
| 9 | Washington | $50,220 | $47,360 | $24 | +6.7% | 470 |
| 10 | Arizona | $50,130 | $48,630 | $24 | +6.5% | 210 |
| 11 | Indiana | $49,980 | $48,500 | $24 | +6.2% | 950 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $49,660 | $49,030 | $24 | +5.5% | 950 |
| 13 | Kansas | $49,530 | $49,090 | $24 | +5.2% | 520 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $49,130 | $46,190 | $24 | +4.4% | 540 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $48,990 | $51,240 | $24 | +4.1% | 60 |
| 16 | Ohio | $48,820 | $50,060 | $23 | +3.7% | 490 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $48,740 | $47,340 | $23 | +3.5% | — |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $48,660 | $48,870 | $23 | +3.4% | 360 |
| 19 | Virginia | $48,510 | $48,610 | $23 | +3.1% | 240 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $48,510 | $49,190 | $23 | +3.1% | 120 |
| 21 | California | $48,470 | $45,070 | $23 | +3% | 2,260 |
| 22 | Illinois | $48,470 | $48,280 | $23 | +3% | 1,040 |
| 23 | Utah | $48,010 | $45,430 | $23 | +2% | 360 |
| 24 | Idaho | $47,990 | $47,630 | $23 | +2% | 610 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $46,810 | $47,500 | $23 | -0.6% | 380 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $46,680 | $48,240 | $22 | -0.8% | 360 |
| 27 | Iowa | $46,020 | $46,740 | $22 | -2.2% | 600 |
| 28 | Maryland | $45,510 | $44,440 | $22 | -3.3% | — |
| 29 | South Dakota | $45,420 | $46,320 | $22 | -3.5% | 460 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $45,290 | $44,330 | $22 | -3.8% | 320 |
| 31 | Missouri | $44,660 | $44,990 | $21 | -5.1% | 450 |
| 32 | Florida | $44,400 | $45,210 | $21 | -5.7% | 4,530 |
| 33 | Alabama | $43,600 | $43,440 | $21 | -7.4% | 320 |
| 34 | Michigan | $43,460 | $44,460 | $21 | -7.7% | 860 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $41,650 | $39,380 | $20 | -11.5% | 290 |
| 36 | Georgia | $41,550 | $39,080 | $20 | -11.7% | 1,300 |
| 37 | Maine | $41,450 | $40,200 | $20 | -11.9% | 60 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $41,310 | $35,770 | $20 | -12.2% | 650 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $41,120 | $37,860 | $20 | -12.6% | 490 |
| 40 | Montana | $41,070 | $37,760 | $20 | -12.7% | 630 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $40,210 | $38,740 | $19 | -14.6% | 120 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $39,280 | $38,100 | $19 | -16.5% | 610 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $38,240 | $36,870 | $18 | -18.8% | 370 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $34,600 | $26,220 | $17 | -26.5% | 220 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 172 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,990 | $64,180 | — |
| 2 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $62,130 | $55,990 | — |
| 3 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $60,470 | $52,890 | 50 |
| 4 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $60,290 | $56,820 | 60 |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $58,550 | $61,370 | 100 |
| 6 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,160 | $56,000 | 70 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $55,830 | $50,360 | 70 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,530 | $57,510 | 110 |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,420 | $56,540 | 100 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $51,640 | $50,660 | 50 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetations (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educational Services, Local Government Owned | $49,550 | $53,410 | 40 |
| 2 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | $49,550 | $53,560 | 40 |
| 3 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, Local Government Owned | $49,550 | $53,560 | 40 |
| 4 | Warehousing and Storage | $49,090 | $50,690 | 50 |
| 5 | Warehousing and Storage | $49,090 | $50,690 | 50 |
| 6 | Sectors 48 and 49 - Transportation and Warehousing | $49,090 | $48,800 | 70 |
| 7 | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $48,840 | $48,790 | 70 |
| 8 | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $48,840 | $48,790 | 70 |
| 9 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,700 | $52,370 | 70 |
| 10 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,700 | $49,890 | 110 |
| 11 | Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $48,610 | $46,980 | 510 |
| 12 | Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | $48,610 | $46,980 | 510 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make in the U.S.?
The median pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation salary in the United States is $46,340 per year (mean $47,070), and about 80% earn between $35,570 and $61,420.
How much do pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation make per hour?
Roughly $23 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $47,070 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation the most?
Massachusetts has the highest average pay for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation at $63,180 per year (median $62,980).
What is the job outlook for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
Employment is projected to change +3.8% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 4,100 openings per year.