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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

37-3012 Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

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. Crop dusters are included in "Commercial Pilots" (53-2012).


National estimates for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Industry profile for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Geographic profile for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

National estimates for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
23,950 5.2 % $ 18.81 $ 39,130 1.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 12.30 $ 14.64 $ 17.61 $ 20.94 $ 26.94
Annual Wage (2) $ 25,590 $ 30,440 $ 36,630 $ 43,560 $ 56,030


Industry profile for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Services to Buildings and Dwellings 12,600 0.59 $ 18.58 $ 38,650
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 3,540 0.66 $ 18.77 $ 39,050
Support Activities for Crop Production 1,680 0.48 (8) (8)
Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers 700 1.02 $ 19.89 $ 41,370
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 390 0.04 $ 17.82 $ 37,050

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers 700 1.02 $ 19.89 $ 41,370
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 3,540 0.66 $ 18.77 $ 39,050
Services to Buildings and Dwellings 12,600 0.59 $ 18.58 $ 38,650
Support Activities for Crop Production 1,680 0.48 (8) (8)
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores 350 0.21 $ 17.17 $ 35,720

Top paying industries for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 100 (7) $ 26.86 $ 55,860
Real Estate 40 (7) $ 24.24 $ 50,420
Social Advocacy Organizations 50 0.02 $ 22.59 $ 46,980
Elementary and Secondary Schools 50 (7) $ 21.00 $ 43,670
Building Equipment Contractors 50 (7) $ 20.46 $ 42,560


Geographic profile for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Florida 4,090 0.48 2.81 $ 16.36 $ 34,030
California 1,830 0.11 0.65 $ 23.51 $ 48,900
Texas 1,190 0.10 0.57 $ 17.49 $ 36,390
Minnesota 1,000 0.37 2.15 $ 17.21 $ 35,810
Illinois 960 0.17 0.99 $ 22.09 $ 45,940




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
South Dakota 670 1.64 9.53 $ 17.30 $ 35,990
North Dakota 590 1.47 8.51 $ 24.47 $ 50,890
Idaho 700 0.97 5.62 (8) (8)
Wyoming 220 0.84 4.89 $ 20.05 $ 41,700
Montana 300 0.67 3.88 $ 18.11 $ 37,680




Top paying states for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Dakota 590 1.47 8.51 $ 24.47 $ 50,890
California 1,830 0.11 0.65 $ 23.51 $ 48,900
New Hampshire 100 0.16 0.91 $ 22.30 $ 46,390
Illinois 960 0.17 0.99 $ 22.09 $ 45,940
Oregon 280 0.16 0.90 $ 21.40 $ 44,510





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,180 0.47 2.72 $ 17.01 $ 35,370
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 620 0.52 3.00 $ 15.94 $ 33,150
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 530 0.20 1.16 $ 15.88 $ 33,030
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 450 0.21 1.24 $ 18.26 $ 37,980
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 0.07 0.42 $ 28.70 $ 59,700
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 290 0.28 1.62 $ 17.68 $ 36,770
Jacksonville, FL 260 0.38 2.22 $ 15.25 $ 31,710
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 190 0.04 0.25 $ 28.50 $ 59,270
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 180 0.13 0.74 $ 18.97 $ 39,450
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 140 0.98 5.68 $ 17.66 $ 36,730




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 130 2.47 14.33 $ 16.92 $ 35,200
Madera, CA 90 1.87 10.87 $ 18.09 $ 37,620
Bay City, MI 40 1.26 7.31 $ 16.30 $ 33,900
Yakima, WA 110 1.17 6.81 $ 18.78 $ 39,070
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 140 0.98 5.68 $ 17.66 $ 36,730
Champaign-Urbana, IL 80 0.80 4.63 $ 20.87 $ 43,410
Billings, MT 60 0.73 4.25 $ 17.28 $ 35,940
Grand Forks, ND-MN 30 0.70 4.07 $ 18.75 $ 39,010
Sioux Falls, SD 110 0.68 3.97 $ 16.88 $ 35,110
Salinas, CA 110 0.63 3.64 $ 20.88 $ 43,420




Top paying metropolitan areas for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 110 0.05 0.28 $ 38.53 $ 80,140
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 0.07 0.42 $ 28.70 $ 59,700
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 190 0.04 0.25 $ 28.50 $ 59,270
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 50 0.05 0.31 $ 26.75 $ 55,640
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 26.72 $ 55,570
Wenatchee, WA (8) (8) (8) $ 26.14 $ 54,380
Merced, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 23.95 $ 49,820
Boise City, ID (8) (8) (8) $ 23.94 $ 49,800
Tulsa, OK (8) (8) (8) $ 23.92 $ 49,750
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 23.17 $ 48,190

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 340 2.64 15.32 $ 17.76 $ 36,940
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 330 2.83 16.43 $ 29.21 $ 60,760
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 310 0.82 4.79 $ 18.16 $ 37,780
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 210 1.83 10.62 $ 18.17 $ 37,800
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.36 19.50 $ 16.71 $ 34,750

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 190 3.36 19.50 $ 16.71 $ 34,750
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 330 2.83 16.43 $ 29.21 $ 60,760
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 340 2.64 15.32 $ 17.76 $ 36,940
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 150 2.46 14.31 $ 19.95 $ 41,490
East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area 140 2.20 12.78 $ 17.27 $ 35,920

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 330 2.83 16.43 $ 29.21 $ 60,760
Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 21.63 $ 44,990
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 40 0.39 2.27 $ 21.62 $ 44,970
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 120 0.59 3.41 $ 21.51 $ 44,730
West Montana nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 21.48 $ 44,680


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021