Pest Control Workers vs Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Pest Control Workers vs Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: what changes?

Consider Pest Control Workers if you want to apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas. Consider Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation if you would rather mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Pest Control Workers and Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Pest Control Workers

National median pay (2025): $45,250
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Record work activities performed.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 13,700

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Pest Control Workers brief

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

National median pay (2025): $46,340
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,300

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation brief

How the national numbers differ

Pest Control Workers has the edge on annual openings

Pest Control Workers is at 13,700 annual openings, compared with 3,300 annual openings for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.

Pest Control Workers has the edge on projected growth

Pest Control Workers is at 5.5% projected growth, compared with 3.9% projected growth for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation.

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation has the edge on median pay

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is at $46,340, compared with $45,250 for Pest Control Workers.

57.7/ 100

Pest Control Workers

46.6/ 100

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Pest Control Workers vs Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Dimension	Pest Control Workers	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Median pay (2025)	$45,250	$46,340
Pay percentile	18.6 percentile	21.2 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.5%	3.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	13,700	3,300
2025 employment	108,700	25,700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Pest Control Workers brief Read Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation brief

Pest Control Workers vs Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Pest Control Workers

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

How the national numbers differ

Pest Control Workers has the edge on annual openings

Pest Control Workers has the edge on projected growth

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation has the edge on median pay

Pest Control Workers vs Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation

Try another comparison

Pest Control Workers vs First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation vs First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers