California Median
$45,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.67
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $46,340
State Rank
#29 of 44
2,260 employed here
How much do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation make in California?
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in California take home a median of $45,070 annually — roughly $21.67 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $46,340.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $38,180 while the top 10% make $64,680 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,940 and $53,400 a year.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,940 | $18.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $45,070 | $21.67 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $53,400 | $25.67 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,680 | $31.10 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 29th out of 44 states and territories for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary in other states
Massachusetts $62,980Delaware $54,190Oregon $51,590Hawaii $51,240North Dakota $50,490Ohio $50,060Wyoming $49,190Kansas $49,090Minnesota $49,030Pennsylvania $48,870Arizona $48,630Virginia $48,610Indiana $48,500New York $48,380Rhode Island $48,360Illinois $48,280North Carolina $48,240Nevada $48,030Idaho $47,630Nebraska $47,500Washington $47,360Tennessee $47,340Colorado $47,020Iowa $46,740South Dakota $46,320Wisconsin $46,190Utah $45,430Florida $45,210Missouri $44,990Michigan $44,460Maryland $44,440New Jersey $44,330Alabama $43,440Maine $40,200Kentucky $39,380Georgia $39,080New Mexico $38,740South Carolina $38,100Arkansas $37,860Montana $37,760Oklahoma $36,870Mississippi $35,770Louisiana $26,220
Working as Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in California
Nationally, about 27,000 people work as Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($45,070) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation make in California?
The median Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary in California is $45,070 per year, or about $21.67 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,180 at the entry level to $64,680 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation about 3% less than the national median of $46,340. California ranks 29th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $45,070 a year. About 2,260 Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.