Pesticides sprayer
Also known as: sprayer of pesticides, lawn care chemical applicator, pesticides applicator, spray technician, trees sprayer
About this occupation
Pesticides sprayers mix pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and other chemical solutions, and apply them via technical equipment such as sprayers on trees, plants and lawns. They clean and maintain operating machinery and ensure the overall safety in designated areas.
A specialisation of pest management worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- herbicides
- use personal protection equipment
- chemical products
- complete report sheets of activity
- pesticides
- perform pest control
- European pesticide legislation
- perform safety inspections on spraying equipment
- dispose of hazardous waste
- pesticides sprayers
- spray pesticides
- handle chemical products for soil and plants
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation (O*NET 37-3012.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.
- Record information about pesticide applications, such as the type used and amount applied.
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.
- Establish driving routes for pesticide applications.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness
US median pay: US$46,340 a year (2025), 27,050 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (3.8)
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (3.6)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.4)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Agricultural Equipment Operators
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Pest Control Workers
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.