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.
Expected pay range
Expected pay range
This represents the median earnings for this career in the selected county or state. In the range shown, 25% of workers earned less than the bottom salary and 25% earned more than the top salary. Data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
About pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
Other titles
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
Tasks they perform
- 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.
Skills they need
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Licenses and Certifications
How to decide which one is right? That depends on an individual’s career path, specialty, and resources.
NONCOMMERCIAL PESTICDE APPLICATOR
Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- State exam required
- Education
- No educational requirements
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- No criminal record prohibitions
APPRENTICE (Structural Pest Control Applicator)
Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- License Type
- Preliminary/temporary license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- No exam required
- Education
- No educational requirements
- Continuing education
- No continuing education requirement to maintain license
- Criminal record
- Background check required
NONCOMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR POLITICAL
Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- State exam required
- Education
- No educational requirements
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- No criminal record prohibitions
PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- State exam required
- Education
- Specific course required
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- No criminal record prohibitions
COMMERCIAL PESTICDE APPLICATOR
Texas Department of Agriculture~Licenses and Registrations
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- State exam required
- Education
- No educational requirements
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- Specific type of conviction prohibited
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- Both state and third-party exams required
- Education
- Degree required
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- Background check required
Certifications
Certifications may be available for this career and can help build knowledge and skills in specific job roles. Explore available certifications (external link opens new tab)
Similar careers
View careers in the same field as pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation.
Agricultural Equipment Operators
Better pay
Median salary for this career is higher than the median salary of all careers in the county selected. Salary data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
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Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Better pay
Median salary for this career is higher than the median salary of all careers in the county selected. Salary data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Additional career information and resources
Learn more about pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation with these helpful sites.
- International Society of Arboriculture (external link opens new tab)
- National Association of Landscape Professionals (external link opens new tab)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Grounds maintenance workers (external link opens new tab)
- Professional Grounds Management Society (external link opens new tab)
- Tree Care Industry Association (external link opens new tab)