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Spray technician vs certified pesticide applicator

The differences between spray technicians and certified pesticide applicators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified pesticide applicator has an average salary of $40,605, which is higher than the $34,984 average annual salary of a spray technician.

The top three skills for a spray technician include customer service, golf courses and taking care. The most important skills for a certified pesticide applicator are CDL, pest control, and customer service.

Spray technician vs certified pesticide applicator overview

Spray TechnicianCertified Pesticide Applicator
Yearly salary$34,984$40,605
Hourly rate$16.82$19.52
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs30,43237,357
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4141
Years of experience--

Spray technician vs certified pesticide applicator salary

Spray technicians and certified pesticide applicators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Spray TechnicianCertified Pesticide Applicator
Average salary$34,984$40,605
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $22,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityPhoenix, AZ-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyEaton-
Best paying industryTransportation-

Differences between spray technician and certified pesticide applicator education

There are a few differences between a spray technician and a certified pesticide applicator in terms of educational background:

Spray TechnicianCertified Pesticide Applicator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleSUNY Farmingdale

Spray technician vs certified pesticide applicator demographics

Here are the differences between spray technicians' and certified pesticide applicators' demographics:

Spray TechnicianCertified Pesticide Applicator
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 87.9% Female, 12.1%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 0.4% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7%Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 0.4% White, 76.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between spray technician and certified pesticide applicator duties and responsibilities

Spray technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage hardscape installation team and project
  • Assist the mechanic servicing smaller equipment such as trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, push mowers, buffalo blowers, etc.
  • Operate mowers, tractors, loaders, and spray equipment for the day to day maintenance.
  • Use measuring tape and calipers to measure gaskets and thickness of metal surfaces inside rail road tankers.
  • Apply all course pesticides, set up, mowing, USGA tournament preparation, training and irrigation installation and repair
  • Perform mowing, seeding, fertilizing, tree trimming, weed eating, pruning and other duties as assigned.
  • Show more

Certified pesticide applicator example responsibilities.

  • Preform all troubleshooting and diagnostics for termite infestations.
  • Administer appropriate tree and shrub fungicide and insecticide controls, discuss site plans for tree and shrub customers.

Spray technician vs certified pesticide applicator skills

Common spray technician skills
  • Customer Service, 34%
  • Golf Courses, 12%
  • Taking Care, 7%
  • Pest Control, 5%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%
  • Mowing, 4%
Common certified pesticide applicator skills
  • CDL, 58%
  • Pest Control, 29%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • DOT, 2%
  • Weed Control, 2%

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