National
| Median wages (2008) |
$14.31 hourly, $29,770 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
31,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
8,000 additional employees |
37-3012.00 - 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 botanical crops. Usually requires specific training and State or Federal certification.
Sample of reported job titles:
Lawn Technician, Lawn Specialist, Spray Technician, Pesticides Applicator, Applicator, Chemical Applicator, Integrated Pest Management Technician (IPM Technician), Spray Applicator, Pest Control Technician, Tree and Shrub Technician
Tasks
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes in order to direct spray over designated areas.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators and pumps or portable spray equipment.
- Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.
- Clean and service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, and/or hand tools.
- Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
- Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.
