Cleaning & Maintenance · SOC 37-3012
Physical operation, chemical knowledge, and real-time field judgment keep this role largely out of AI's reach for now.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: Drone-based spraying is growing in agriculture, but licensed residential and commercial application still requires a certified human operator through at least the late 2020s.
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$50,430 median pay
$38,090 median pay
$35,930 median pay
$34,660 median pay
$44,730 median pay
AI job-risk card
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is 14/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
14 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Route planning and scheduling service visits. Harder to automate: Identifying plant diseases and selecting treatments, Physically directing hoses and spray equipment, Cleaning and servicing machinery on-site, Ensuring safe chemical handling and disposal.
Lean into Pesticide licensing and regulations, Plant disease identification, Chemical safety and PPE use, Equipment maintenance. Consider roles such as Agricultural technician or Environmental compliance inspector or Integrated pest management consultant.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.