How much does a pesticide handler make?
The median pesticide handler in the United States earns $46,340 per year, about $22.28 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all pesticide handlers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 37-3012.
Pesticide handler salary range
Pay for pesticide handlers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,570 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $61,420. The average (mean) wage of $47,070 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,570 | $17.10 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $39,160 | $18.83 | |
| Median (50th) | $46,340 | $22.28 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $51,240 | $24.63 | |
| 90th percentile | $61,420 | $29.53 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (SOC 37-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Pesticide handler salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Pesticide handlers earn the most in Massachusetts at $62,980 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $26,220. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $62,980 | N/A |
| Delaware | $54,190 | 40 |
| Oregon | $51,590 | 290 |
| Hawaii | $51,240 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $50,490 | 280 |
| Ohio | $50,060 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $49,190 | 120 |
| Kansas | $49,090 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $49,030 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,870 | 360 |
| Arizona | $48,630 | 210 |
| Virginia | $48,610 | 240 |
| Indiana | $48,500 | 950 |
| New York | $48,380 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $48,360 | 100 |
| Illinois | $48,280 | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $48,240 | 360 |
| Nevada | $48,030 | 100 |
| Idaho | $47,630 | 610 |
| Nebraska | $47,500 | 380 |
| Washington | $47,360 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $47,340 | N/A |
| Colorado | $47,020 | 960 |
| Iowa | $46,740 | 600 |
| South Dakota | $46,320 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $46,190 | 540 |
| Utah | $45,430 | 360 |
| Florida | $45,210 | 4,530 |
| California | $45,070 | 2,260 |
| Missouri | $44,990 | 450 |
| Michigan | $44,460 | 860 |
| Maryland | $44,440 | N/A |
| New Jersey | $44,330 | 320 |
| Alabama | $43,440 | 320 |
| Maine | $40,200 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $39,380 | 290 |
| Georgia | $39,080 | 1,300 |
| New Mexico | $38,740 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $38,100 | 610 |
| Arkansas | $37,860 | 490 |
| Montana | $37,760 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $36,870 | 370 |
| Mississippi | $35,770 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $26,220 | 220 |
State median wages for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation (SOC 37-3012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for pesticide handlers
The BLS projects employment of pesticide handlers to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 25,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 26,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,300 openings a year for pesticide handlers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a pesticide handler
The typical entry-level education for pesticide handlers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a pesticide handler earns
Employer, region, shift, and whether the role is supervisory account for most of the pay spread. Government and large institutional employers often pay above small private contractors.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $62,980) and the lowest (Louisiana, $26,220) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 27,050 people work as pesticide handlers in the United States. At $46,340 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Pesticide handler salary FAQ
How much does a pesticide handler make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a pesticide handler is $22.28. The middle half of pesticide handlers earn between $18.83 and $24.63 per hour.
What is the highest pesticide handler salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of pesticide handlers earn more than $61,420 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a pesticide handler make a year?
The median annual salary for a pesticide handler is $46,340. The average (mean) wage of $47,070 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a pesticide handler a well paid job?
At $46,340 a year, a pesticide handler earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 27,050 people work as pesticide handlers in the United States.
Which state pays pesticide handlers the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for pesticide handlers at $62,980 a year. Delaware ($54,190) and Oregon ($51,590) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a pesticide handler a good career?
Employment of pesticide handlers is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a pesticide handler?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for pesticide handlers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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