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AI Work Index

Headline risk

2%

Very Low Risk

Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

United States AI Work IndexISCO 9214crosswalk_exact

United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.

29.6 current · 30.7 projectedConfidence high

Why This Score

Tasks 100%

Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities

Wage $45K

Median annual wage

Demand 4%

Projected employment change over 10 years

Preparation Zone 2

Typical preparation needed for this occupation

Occupation profile

Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification.

Task evidence

100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage

Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works

United States Now

Median Wage

USD 45,200

Employment 2024

29.6K

Projected Change (2024–34)

3.8%

Openings (2024–34)

4.1K

Wage distribution

Bottom 10%: USD 34,59025th pctl: USD 38,040Median: USD 45,20075th pctl: USD 50,960Top 10%: USD 58,910

Demand outlook

Overall employment of grounds maintenance workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent Experience: None

Role Profile

Detail orientedProblem solving and decision makingAdaptability

Tasks

  • 1. Fill sprayer tanks with water and chemicals, according to formulas. AI use: 0%
  • 2. Lift, push, and swing nozzles, hoses, and tubes to direct spray over designated areas. AI use: 0%
  • 3. Mix pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides for application to trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops. AI use: 0%
  • 4. Cover areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions. AI use: 0%
  • 5. Start motors and engage machinery, such as sprayer agitators or pumps or portable spray equipment. AI use: 0%
  • 6. Clean or service machinery to ensure operating efficiency, using water, gasoline, lubricants, or hand tools. AI use: 0%

Technologies

FacebookGoogle AndroidMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookCustomer database software

Requirements

Work context

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions 4.8/5
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment 4.7/5
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets 4.7/5
Frequency of Decision Making 4.5/5
Exposed to Contaminants 4.4/5
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results 4.4/5

Worker profile

Median age 44.7 · 1.8M employed

Under 25: 5% · 25–54: 68% · 55+: 27%

Related

No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.

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