What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the U.S. earn more than $46,340 a year — the middle 80% land between $35,570 and $61,420. About 27,050 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Elementary occupations earn about ₹11,530 a month on average — around ₹1.4 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$46,340typical pay / year
27,050people in this work
$61,420+top 10% earn
₹1.4 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
The daily work18
Cover areas with pesticides to specified depths
+Apply pesticide to the sports field beds at Riverside Park to a 5 millimetre covering depth, using the…
Cover areas with pesticides to specified depths
+Apply pesticide to the sports field beds at Riverside Park to a 5 millimetre covering depth, using the calibrated boom sprayer at the specified rate, record the batch number and weather conditions on the treatment sheet afterwards.
The tools that do the workRate calculationMaterials inventoryESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Handle chemical products for soil and plants
+Mix and label the soil and plant treatment batch for 15 clients along County Road 7, wear full PPE, record…
Handle chemical products for soil and plants
+Mix and label the soil and plant treatment batch for 15 clients along County Road 7, wear full PPE, record product lot numbers and dilution rates in the activity sheet, store unopened drums in the locked chemical locker and notify Maria in procurement if stock falls under two drums.
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Perform safety inspections on spraying equipment
+Perform a pre-shift safety inspection of the sprayer: check nozzle calibration, pressure gauge readings, hose…
Perform safety inspections on spraying equipment
+Perform a pre-shift safety inspection of the sprayer: check nozzle calibration, pressure gauge readings, hose integrity and anti-backflow device, document readings and any defects on the inspection sheet, tag out units with leaks and book repair with Tom by end of day.
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Chemical products
+Prepare the chemical use log for next week: list active substances to be applied, legally required buffer…
Chemical products
+Prepare the chemical use log for next week: list active substances to be applied, legally required buffer zones, operator PPE for each product, calculate per-hectare application rates and sign the compliance declaration before the Monday run.
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Perform pest control
+Treat the aphid outbreak on Maple Crescent: don full PPE, apply the approved planticide to the lawns and…
Perform pest control
+Treat the aphid outbreak on Maple Crescent: don full PPE, apply the approved planticide to the lawns and ornamental beds following label limits, avoid runoff into the pond, record area treated and weather conditions on the activity report and inform the homeowner they must keep children and pets off treated areas for 24 hours.
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Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
+Give Mike and Javier the day’s driving plan so each truck covers its assigned streets without gaps: list…
Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.
+Give Mike and Javier the day’s driving plan so each truck covers its assigned streets without gaps: list start time, street names and block numbers, where to stop for hand signals, horn pattern for turns and overlaps, and confirm by 07:30.
The tools that do the workGeographic information system GISO*NET
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Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.
+Seed the west park and the St. Mary’s embankment with the specified grass mix, assign operator to the seed…
Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.
+Seed the west park and the St. Mary’s embankment with the specified grass mix, assign operator to the seed spreader rotation, run the straw blower over seeded strips with an asphalt-straw mix at the prescribed depth, and record machine hours and mix volumes on completion.
The tools that do the workMaterials inventoryO*NET
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Identify lawn or plant diseases
+Inspect the east lawn and roses, take close photos of symptoms, note pattern and spread, run through likely…
Identify lawn or plant diseases
+Inspect the east lawn and roses, take close photos of symptoms, note pattern and spread, run through likely pathogens and abiotic causes, and prepare a condition report with sample locations and PPE used for submission by noon.
The tools that do the workCustomer databasejob descriptions
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Determine appropriate treatment based on disease identification
+Based on the inspection photos and symptoms, recommend the specific treatment: list active ingredient,…
Determine appropriate treatment based on disease identification
+Based on the inspection photos and symptoms, recommend the specific treatment: list active ingredient, application rate, buffer zones, required PPE, re-entry interval, and include alternatives if legislation or resistance suggests different options.
The tools that do the workRate calculationjob descriptions
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Follow weather conditions and droplet size guidelines
+Monitor today’s temperature, wind speed, and droplet sizes for each spray run; delay or stop applications if…
Follow weather conditions and droplet size guidelines
+Monitor today’s temperature, wind speed, and droplet sizes for each spray run; delay or stop applications if wind exceeds safety limits or droplets are outside recommended size, and log readings plus decisions in the activity sheet.
The tools that do the workGoogle Androidjob descriptions
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Ensure overall safety in designated areas
+Secure the Park Zone before work: set exclusion tape, post signage, confirm crews wear PPE, assign a safety…
Ensure overall safety in designated areas
+Secure the Park Zone before work: set exclusion tape, post signage, confirm crews wear PPE, assign a safety lead to monitor public access, inspect equipment for leaks, and file the safety checklist when the area is cleared at day end.
The tools that do the workCustomer databaseESCO
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Use personal protection equipment
+Put on the certified coveralls, nitrile gloves, FFP3 mask and eye protection before loading the sprayer,…
Use personal protection equipment
+Put on the certified coveralls, nitrile gloves, FFP3 mask and eye protection before loading the sprayer, check seals and fit, sign the daily PPE checklist and note any defects in the van log before starting jobs today.
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Avoid contamination
+After finishing the treatment, remove gloves and coveralls without touching the outside, place them in the…
Avoid contamination
+After finishing the treatment, remove gloves and coveralls without touching the outside, place them in the labelled contaminated bin, wash hands and boots at the wash station, then record the decontamination steps in the site notes.
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Complete report sheets of activity
+Fill out the activity sheet for Garden Road property: product name and batch, amount used, area treated,…
Complete report sheets of activity
+Fill out the activity sheet for Garden Road property: product name and batch, amount used, area treated, start and finish times, weather conditions and your signature, then upload the completed sheet to the client file before leaving site.
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European pesticide legislation
+Before treating the council amenity, check the latest EU list for approved active substances, confirm…
European pesticide legislation
+Before treating the council amenity, check the latest EU list for approved active substances, confirm withholding periods and buffer zone rules, note any local restrictions in the job file and do not apply if a banned substance is listed.
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Dispose of hazardous waste
+Collect used spray containers and leftover pesticide concentrate, triple-rinse containers into the sprayer,…
Dispose of hazardous waste
+Collect used spray containers and leftover pesticide concentrate, triple-rinse containers into the sprayer, store rinsate in the correct labelled waste drum, complete the hazardous waste transfer note and move drums to the approved disposal point before the end of the week.
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Safe use of pesticides
+Calibrate the application rate for the front lawn using the product label rate, measure nozzle output and…
Safe use of pesticides
+Calibrate the application rate for the front lawn using the product label rate, measure nozzle output and speed, mix only the required volume, record label instructions and emergency first aid steps on the job sheet before starting.
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Unit conversion
+Record unit conversion for the rotary mower tune-up at 1428 Maple Street, converting fluid volumes and…
Unit conversion
+Record unit conversion for the rotary mower tune-up at 1428 Maple Street, converting fluid volumes and fertilizer rates from metric to imperial so the crew sheet matches parts used today.
The tools that do the workUnit conversionO*NET
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Fixing3
Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals
+Mix the registered herbicide at the correct concentration, fill the 200-litre sprayer to operating level,…
Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals
+Mix the registered herbicide at the correct concentration, fill the 200-litre sprayer to operating level, follow PPE and anti-contamination measures, and log litres and batch numbers on the daily chemicals record before departing site.
The tools that do the workUnit conversionMaterials inventoryESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean and maintain operating machinery
+Strip, clean, inspect and service the ride-on mower and power blower, replace filters and worn belts, grease…
Clean and maintain operating machinery
+Strip, clean, inspect and service the ride-on mower and power blower, replace filters and worn belts, grease all bearings, test run each machine, and complete the maintenance checklist and defect report before stowing equipment.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCOO*NET
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Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes
+Lift, push and swing the treatment nozzles, hoses and feed tubes across the north lawn beds today, wear full…
Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes
+Lift, push and swing the treatment nozzles, hoses and feed tubes across the north lawn beds today, wear full PPE, avoid cross-contaminating flowering borders, and record start/stop times and chemicals used on the daily pesticide report before leaving site.
The tools that do the workMaterials inventoryjob descriptionsO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses