Pesticide Handler

Explore This Path

Ideal for those passionate about protecting crops and enhancing plant health.
Play a crucial role in ensuring safe and effective pest control for agriculture.
Unique opportunity to work outdoors and apply scientific knowledge practically.

💰 Earn $39K-$51K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 5.1% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

3,900 Annually

Median Earnings

$43,910 in California

$44,070 Nationally

$25K

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Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Pesticide Handler? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@dayton_ward1

@carolinetxfarmer

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Coordination
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Job security

Deep Dive

Pesticide Handler

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years