Occupation AtlasPesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
O*NET · 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 crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification.
Also called Applicator · Applicator Sprayer · Certified Pesticide Applicator · Chemical Applicator · Crop Applicator · Custom Applicator · Eradicator · Fertilizer Applicator
39 more
Fruit Sprayer · Garden Tech · Garden Technician (Garden Tech) · Hand Spray Operator · Hand Sprayer · Herbicide Applicator · Herbicide Sprayer · Hydro Spayer Operator · Insecticide Sprayer · IPM Technician · IPM Technician (Integrated Pest Management Technician) · Knapsack Sprayer · Lawn Specialist · Lawn Spray Tech · Lawn Spray Technician (Lawn Spray Tech) · Lawn Tech · Lawn Technician (Lawn Tech) · Lawncare Specialist · Licensed Pesticide Applicator · Orchard Sprayer · Pest Control Tech · Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech) · Pesticide Applicator · Plant Sprayer · Shrub Tech · Shrub Technician (Shrub Tech) · Shrub Worker · Spray Applicator · Spray Mixer · Spray Tech · Spray Technician (Spray Tech) · Sprayer · Tree Tech · Tree Technician (Tree Tech) · Tree Worker · Weed Controller · Weed Eradicator · Weed Inspector · Weed Sprayer
Compare with another occupationCompare with Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Job Zone
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.
Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.
Occupational interest profile
RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order
- R Realistic6.51
- C Conventional3.67
- I Investigative2.73
- S Social1.95
- E Enterprising1.42
- A Artistic1.00
RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.
Education and experience
The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.
- Related work experience
- None (43%)
- On-site or in-plant training
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (53%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (40%)
Typically associated skills
All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.
- Operations MonitoringImportance 3.0Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
- Time ManagementImportance 3.0Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
- Active ListeningbasicImportance 2.9Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
- Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
- Operation and ControlImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
- Critical ThinkingbasicImportance 2.9Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
- Reading ComprehensionbasicImportance 2.9Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
- Social PerceptivenessImportance 2.9Level 2.6Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
- SpeakingbasicImportance 2.8Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
- CoordinationImportance 2.8Level 2.5Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
- MonitoringbasicImportance 2.6Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
- Complex Problem SolvingImportance 2.6Level 2.6Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
Show the other 23
- Service OrientationImportance 2.5Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
- Active LearningbasicImportance 2.5Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
- WritingbasicImportance 2.5Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
- Management of Personnel ResourcesImportance 2.3Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
- Equipment MaintenanceImportance 2.3Level 1.5Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
- MathematicsbasicImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
- Quality Control AnalysisImportance 2.1Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
- Learning StrategiesbasicImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
- PersuasionImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
- Systems EvaluationImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
- TroubleshootingImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
- InstructingImportance 2.0Level 1.9Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
- Systems AnalysisImportance 2.0Level 1.9Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
- NegotiationImportance 2.0Level 1.6Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
- Equipment SelectionImportance 1.9Level 1.4Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
- Management of Financial ResourcesImportance 1.9Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Use available funds to buy office supplies and record the amount of the purchase
- Management of Material ResourcesImportance 1.9Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
- SciencebasicImportance 1.9Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Conduct standard tests to determine soil quality
- RepairingImportance 1.8Level 1.3Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
- Technology DesignImportance 1.3Level —
- Operations AnalysisImportance 1.1Level —
- ProgrammingImportance 1.1Level —
- InstallationImportance 1.0Level —
Tasks
9 core · 3 supplementalWhat people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).
- Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas.Importance 4.8
- Record information about pesticide applications, such as the type used and amount applied.Importance 4.8
- Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.Importance 4.5
- Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment.Importance 4.3
- Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas.Importance 4.2
- Establish driving routes for pesticide applications.Importance 4.1
- Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools.Importance 4.0
- Connect hoses and nozzles selected according to terrain, distribution pattern requirements, types of infestations, and velocities.Importance 3.9
- Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions.Importance 3.8
Show the other 3
- Identify lawn or plant diseases to determine the appropriate course of treatment.Importance 4.2
- Plant grass with seed spreaders, and operate straw blowers to cover seeded areas with mixtures of asphalt and straw.Importance 2.3
- Provide driving instructions to truck drivers to ensure complete coverage of designated areas, using hand and horn signals.Importance 1.5
Knowledge
Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.
- Customer and Personal ServiceImportance 4.8Level 5.1Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
- English LanguageImportance 4.0Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
- ChemistryImportance 3.8Level 4.7Level 4 looks like: Use the proper concentration of chlorine to purify a water source
- Sales and MarketingImportance 3.8Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Introduce clients to a new line of products
- BiologyImportance 3.6Level 3.8Level 4 looks like: Investigate the effects of pollution on marine plants and animals
- Production and ProcessingImportance 3.6Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Supervise an appliance assembly line
- Education and TrainingImportance 3.5Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
- Administration and ManagementImportance 3.4Level 3.9Level 4 looks like: Monitor progress of a project to ensure timely completion
Show all 33
- MathematicsImportance 3.3Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
- Public Safety and SecurityImportance 3.3Level 2.9
- Computers and ElectronicsImportance 3.2Level 4.1Level 4 looks like: Use a computer to format a document
- TransportationImportance 3.2Level 2.6
- AdministrativeImportance 2.9Level 2.8
- Economics and AccountingImportance 2.8Level 2.5Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
- Engineering and TechnologyImportance 2.8Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Design a custom office chair
- MechanicalImportance 2.7Level 3.2Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
- GeographyImportance 2.6Level 2.4Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
- Law and GovernmentImportance 2.6Level 2.6
- Personnel and Human ResourcesImportance 2.6Level 2.6
- TelecommunicationsImportance 2.6Level 1.3Level 1 looks like: Send an email
- Building and ConstructionImportance 2.5Level 2.0Level 1 looks like: Choose the proper type of wood for adding a deck onto a house
- PhysicsImportance 2.3Level 2.3Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
- DesignImportance 2.0Level 1.5Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
- Sociology and AnthropologyImportance 2.0Level 1.5Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
- Communications and MediaImportance 1.9Level 1.6Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
- PsychologyImportance 1.9Level 1.9Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
- Food ProductionImportance 1.8Level 0.7Level 1 looks like: Grow herbs in the kitchen
- Foreign LanguageImportance 1.8Level 0.8Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
- History and ArcheologyImportance 1.3Level 0.3Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
- Medicine and DentistryImportance 1.3Level 0.4Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
- Therapy and CounselingImportance 1.3Level 0.5Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
- Fine ArtsImportance 1.0Level —
- Philosophy and TheologyImportance 1.0Level —
Abilities
Enduring capacities the work calls for.
- Near VisionImportance 3.6Level 3.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
- Arm-Hand SteadinessImportance 3.1Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
- Control PrecisionImportance 3.1Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
- Manual DexterityImportance 3.1Level 3.0Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
- Multilimb CoordinationImportance 3.1Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
- Oral ComprehensionImportance 3.1Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
- Problem SensitivityImportance 3.1Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
- Trunk StrengthImportance 3.1Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
Show all 52
- Deductive ReasoningImportance 3.0Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
- Far VisionImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
- Inductive ReasoningImportance 3.0Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
- Selective AttentionImportance 3.0Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
- Speech RecognitionImportance 3.0Level 2.6Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
- Static StrengthImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
- Written ComprehensionImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
- Category FlexibilityImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
- Depth PerceptionImportance 2.9Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
- Finger DexterityImportance 2.9Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
- Information OrderingImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
- Oral ExpressionImportance 2.9Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
- Speech ClarityImportance 2.9Level 2.8
- Perceptual SpeedImportance 2.6Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
- Rate ControlImportance 2.6Level 2.4Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
- Time SharingImportance 2.6Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
- VisualizationImportance 2.6Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
- Written ExpressionImportance 2.6Level 2.5Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
- Flexibility of ClosureImportance 2.5Level 2.5Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
- Number FacilityImportance 2.5Level 2.5Level 3 looks like: Calculate a discounted price
- Visual Color DiscriminationImportance 2.5Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
- Fluency of IdeasImportance 2.4Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
- Reaction TimeImportance 2.4Level 2.4Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
- Extent FlexibilityImportance 2.3Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Reach to adjust the radio in a car
- Auditory AttentionImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
- Dynamic StrengthImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
- Glare SensitivityImportance 2.1Level 1.5Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
- Gross Body CoordinationImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
- Gross Body EquilibriumImportance 2.1Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
- Mathematical ReasoningImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
- Response OrientationImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
- Spatial OrientationImportance 2.1Level 1.8Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
- Speed of ClosureImportance 2.1Level 2.0Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
- StaminaImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
- Hearing SensitivityImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
- MemorizationImportance 2.0Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
- Night VisionImportance 2.0Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
- OriginalityImportance 2.0Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
- Peripheral VisionImportance 2.0Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
- Sound LocalizationImportance 2.0Level 1.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
- Wrist-Finger SpeedImportance 2.0Level 1.6Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
- Explosive StrengthImportance 1.9Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
- Speed of Limb MovementImportance 1.6Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
- Dynamic FlexibilityImportance 1.1Level —
Work activities
Kinds of activity the work is made of.
- Getting InformationImportance 4.3Level 3.9Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
- Scheduling Work and ActivitiesImportance 4.3Level 3.7Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
- Documenting/Recording InformationImportance 4.1Level 2.5Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsImportance 4.0Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
- Performing General Physical ActivitiesImportance 4.0Level 4.3Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsImportance 3.9Level 3.6Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentImportance 3.9Level 2.8
- Handling and Moving ObjectsImportance 3.8Level 4.8Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
Show all 41
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleImportance 3.8Level 2.9
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsImportance 3.7Level 3.2Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsImportance 3.7Level 2.9
- Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsImportance 3.7Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
- Communicating with People Outside the OrganizationImportance 3.6Level 3.6Level 4 looks like: Present information to potential clients about available services
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationImportance 3.6Level 3.2Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesImportance 3.4Level 2.8
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkImportance 3.3Level 3.6Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
- Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeImportance 3.3Level 3.2Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
- Monitoring and Controlling ResourcesImportance 3.2Level 2.4Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
- Working with ComputersImportance 3.1Level 2.7
- Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicImportance 3.0Level 2.2Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
- Processing InformationImportance 3.0Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
- Selling or Influencing OthersImportance 3.0Level 2.5Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersImportance 2.9Level 2.3Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
- Analyzing Data or InformationImportance 2.8Level 2.8
- Assisting and Caring for OthersImportance 2.7Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Help a coworker complete an assignment
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsImportance 2.7Level 3.0Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
- Thinking CreativelyImportance 2.6Level 2.4Level 1 looks like: Change the spacing on a printed report
- Performing Administrative ActivitiesImportance 2.5Level 1.7Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
- Training and Teaching OthersImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Give coworkers brief instructions on a simple procedural change
- Controlling Machines and ProcessesImportance 2.3Level 2.2Level 1 looks like: Operate a cash register
- Providing Consultation and Advice to OthersImportance 2.3Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentImportance 2.3Level 2.8
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersImportance 2.2Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of OthersImportance 1.9Level 1.5Level 1 looks like: Exchange information during a shift change
- Developing Objectives and StrategiesImportance 1.9Level 1.9Level 1 looks like: Plan the holiday schedule for an airline workforce
- Coaching and Developing OthersImportance 1.7Level 1.3Level 1 looks like: Show a coworker how to operate a piece of equipment
- Developing and Building TeamsImportance 1.7Level 0.8Level 1 looks like: Encourage two coworkers to stick with a tough assignment
- Staffing Organizational UnitsImportance 1.4Level 0.7Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentImportance 1.3Level —
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesImportance 1.3Level —
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentImportance 1.2Level —
Work context
The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.
Technology
10 toolsSoftware used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.
Hot (5)
- Google Android
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Other tools (5)
- Customer database software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Materials inventory software
- Rate calculation software
- Unit conversion software
Related occupations
O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.
ESCO equivalents
From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.
Closest occupations
Compare any occupation →Other O*NET occupations whose importance ratings on the 35 skills both rate are nearest to this one's, with the biggest differences named. A plain rule, not a hidden score.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Average difference 0.2 points · Science −0.8, Equipment Maintenance −0.4
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Average difference 0.2 points · Management of Financial Resources −0.6, Management of Material Resources −0.5
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Glaziers
Average difference 0.2 points · Installation +1.3, Operations Analysis +0.7
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Light Truck Drivers
Average difference 0.2 points · Science −0.8, Monitoring +0.5
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Floor Sanders and Finishers
Average difference 0.2 points · Science −0.8, Management of Financial Resources −0.5
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Forest and Conservation Workers
Average difference 0.2 points · Learning Strategies +0.6, Active Learning +0.5
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Meter Readers, Utilities
Average difference 0.2 points · Installation +0.8, Science −0.8
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Foundry Mold and Coremakers
Average difference 0.2 points · Reading Comprehension −0.6, Social Perceptiveness −0.6
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
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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. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.