Jobs Similar to Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Also called: Pesticide Applicators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pest Control Workers, Light Truck Drivers and Animal Breeders.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: $46,340 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pest Control Workers | 79% | $45,250−2% | High school |
| 2 | Light Truck Drivers | 75% | $44,860−3% | High school |
| 3 | Animal Breeders | 75% | $51,130+10% | High school |
| 4 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 74% | $49,450+7% | High school |
| 5 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 74% | $40,450−13% | High school |
| 6 | Log Graders and Scalers | 72% | $46,3300% | High school |
| 7 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 72% | $49,880+8% | High school |
| 8 | Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | 72% | $36,670−21% | High school |
| 9 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 72% | $58,870+27% | High school |
| 10 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 71% | $46,4200% | High school |
| 11 | Forest and Conservation Workers | 71% | $43,680−6% | High school |
| 12 | Tree Trimmers and PrunersSame group | 71% | $50,960+10% | High school |
| 13 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 71% | $43,960−5% | High school |
| 14 | Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | 71% | $61,390+32% | High school |
| 15 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 71% | $34,890−25% | High school |
| 16 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 71% | $68,840+49% | High school |
| 17 | Floor Sanders and Finishers | 71% | $50,440+9% | High school |
| 18 | Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | 71% | $35,670−23% | High school |
| 19 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 70% | $61,770+33% | High school |
| 20 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 70% | $40,240Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
- 1Pest Control Workers
79% similar · $45,250 (−2%) · High school
- 2Light Truck Drivers
75% similar · $44,860 (−3%) · High school
- 3Animal Breeders
75% similar · $51,130 (+10%) · High school
- 4Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
74% similar · $49,450 (+7%) · High school
- 5Aircraft Service Attendants
74% similar · $40,450 (−13%) · High school
- 6Log Graders and Scalers
72% similar · $46,330 (0%) · High school
- 7Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
72% similar · $49,880 (+8%) · High school
- 8Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
72% similar · $36,670 (−21%) · High school
- 9Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
72% similar · $58,870 (+27%) · High school
- 10Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
71% similar · $46,420 (0%) · High school
- 11Forest and Conservation Workers
71% similar · $43,680 (−6%) · High school
- 12Tree Trimmers and Pruners
71% similar · $50,960 (+10%) · High school · Same group
- 13Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
71% similar · $43,960 (−5%) · High school
- 14Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
71% similar · $61,390 (+32%) · High school
- 15Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
71% similar · $34,890 (−25%) · High school
- 16Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
71% similar · $68,840 (+49%) · High school
- 17Floor Sanders and Finishers
71% similar · $50,440 (+9%) · High school
- 18Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants
71% similar · $35,670 (−23%) · High school
- 19Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
70% similar · $61,770 (+33%) · High school
- 20Recycling and Reclamation Workers
70% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation.
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers71% similar · $68,840 (+49%)
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers70% similar · $61,770 (+33%)
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters71% similar · $61,390 (+32%)
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders72% similar · $58,870 (+27%)
- Animal Breeders75% similar · $51,130 (+10%)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners71% similar · $50,960 (+10%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Pest Control Workers (89)
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse (79)
- Forest and Conservation Workers (78)
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals (76)
- Animal Breeders (75)
- Light Truck Drivers (75)
- Log Graders and Scalers (72)
- Meter Readers, Utilities (70)
- Agricultural Technicians (67)
- Paperhangers (67)
Questions about jobs like pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation
What jobs are most similar to pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pest Control Workers (79% similar), Light Truck Drivers (75% similar), Animal Breeders (75% similar), Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (74% similar) and Aircraft Service Attendants (74% similar).
Which jobs like pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers ($68,840, +49%; usually a high school diploma), Pump Operators ($61,770, +33%; usually a high school diploma) and Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters ($61,390, +32%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation ($46,340). Without more preparation than pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation usually need: Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, Pump Operators and Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.