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Career Profile

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

What they 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.

Also Called:

Chemical Applicator, Integrated Pest Management Technician (IPM Technician), Lawn Specialist, Lawn Technician, Licensed Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Technician, Pesticide Applicator, Spray Applicator, Spray Technician, Tree and Shrub Technician, Chemical Applicator, Integrated Pest Management Technician (IPM Technician), Lawn Specialist, Lawn Technician, Licensed Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Technician, Pesticide Applicator, Spray Applicator, Spray Technician, Tree and Shrub Technician

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Employment Data

*State data provided by O*NET & BLS
Compare State Data      Compare Metro Area Data   
$28,810
Starting Salary (2025)
$36,740
Median Salary (2025)
3.8%
Projected Job Growth
63,430
TX Employment (2025)

Typical Tasks

Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.
Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
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.
Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Realistic
Practical, Physical Work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work
Investigative
Studying, Research based work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Independence
Cooperation
Integrity
Self-Control

What key skills are needed for this job?

Active Listening
Time Management
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension

Expected Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Biology

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Common Activities

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.
Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.
Job Zone 2

Some Preparation Needed

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.

Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

  • High school diploma 56%
  • Post-secondary certificate 16%
  • Less than high school 15%
  • Bachelor's degree 13%
  • Associate's degree 0%
Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

Related Careers

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Pest Control Workers
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

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*Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.