Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators
On the Job
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators mix or apply chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides. They may use sprays, dusts, or chemical applicators on trees, lawns, or crops. State or federal certification is often required for this career.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Inspect landscaping to determine treatment needs.
- Clean equipment or supplies.
- Plant greenery to improve landscape appearance.
- Prepare chemicals for work application.
- Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances.
- Maintain equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
- Instruct staff in work policies or procedures.
Typical Working Conditions
- Working outdoors exposed to weather.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Exposure to hazardous conditions.
- Dealing with external customers.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
