Crop Duster (Agricultural Aerial Applicator)
Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.
Median salary
$75,000/yr
Typical range
$55,000 – $102,000
Education
High school diploma
Time to entry
No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning
What a Crop Duster (Agricultural Aerial Applicator) does
Pilots low-flying fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters at treetop level across farm fields, precisely dispensing pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers according to agronomic prescriptions.
Education & path
The typical entry point is a high school diploma. No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning.
Estimated cost of that path: No degree cost. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.
Related careers
- Livestock Guardian Dog Trainer — $42,000/yr
- Sturgeon Aquaculture Specialist — $50,000/yr
- Coral Reef Restoration Technician — $46,000/yr
- Avian Collision Mitigation Specialist — $55,000/yr
- Coral Reef Restoration Specialist — $58,000/yr
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