[Objectives]  To use iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) techniques to investigate proteomic differences between resistant (conventional drug management), and sensitive (unmanaged), Empoasca flavescens populations in tea plantations, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for managing resistance in this pest. [Methods]  E. flavescens were collected in tea plantations using both random and multi-point sampling methods. Proteins were extracted and quantified with a protein purification kit, then enzymatically digested and labeled with an iTRAQ labeling kit. Peptides were isolated using high pH-RPLC and identified with RPLC-MS. The molecular function, biological processes, and cell locations of differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using the GO ontology (Gene ontology) method. Metabolic pathways were annotated using the KEGG pathway website. The interaction network of differentially expressed proteins was analyzed with the String-DB database. Finally, significantly different resistance-related enzyme proteins were further analyzed and sorted. [Results]  A total of 728.23 µg proteins were extracted from sensitive populations and 1 261.17 µg from resistant populations. A total of 1 399 proteins differed significantly between resistant and sensitive populations. Of these, 101 were up-regulated and 218 were down-regulated more than 1.5 times. GO analysis indicates that 319 differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in ion-binding, and in the composition of ribosomes and oxidoreductase. These proteins mainly function in protein translation, material transport and small molecule metabolic processes, and are distributed in the intracellular membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes and nucleus, respectively. KEGG analysis indicates that the 319 differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in the carbon and ribosomal metabolism, and the phagocytosis pathway. The results of STRING analysis indicate that the 319 differentially proteins regulated each other via multiple pathways. Analysis of resistance-related protein enzymes revealed that three glutathione S-transferase (GSTs), two cytochrome P450 oxidase (P450), two superoxide dismutase (SOD) and two peroxide dismutase (POD) were significantly different in sensitive and resistant populations. [Conclusion]  Resistant and sensitive populations of E. flavescens have significant proteomic differences. Differentially expressed proteins have a variety of molecular functions and are widely distributed in different cell types. Detoxification enzyme activity was stronger in the resistant population than in the sensitive one.