Pest Control Workers: Career Overview
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
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What Do Pest Control Workers Perform?
The core tasks performed by pest control workers cover:
- Record work activities performed.
- Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
- Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Clean work site after completion of job.
- Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
- Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.
- Study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested area and determine treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation.
Skills and Knowledge
Top pest control workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Pest Control Workers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Bed Bug Exterminator
- Certified Pest Control Technician
- Chemical Applicator
- Commercial Pest Control Representative
- Commercial Pest Control Technician
- Commercial Technician
- Extermination Inspector
- Exterminator
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 336,869 pest control workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +8.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Pest Control Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $34,377 |
| Hourly median | $16.53 |
| 10th percentile | $23,405 |
| 25th percentile | $28,891 |
| 75th percentile | $39,863 |
| 90th percentile | $45,349 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,450 |
| Washington | $50,190 |
| Maine | $49,940 |
| North Dakota | $48,840 |
| New Hampshire | $48,750 |
| New York | $48,470 |
| Hawaii | $48,420 |
| Wisconsin | $48,370 |
| Alaska | $47,930 |
| Indiana | $47,130 |
| Connecticut | $46,830 |
| Rhode Island | $46,660 |
| New Jersey | $46,370 |
| Illinois | $46,310 |
| Vermont | $46,280 |
| Minnesota | $45,830 |
| Massachusetts | $45,790 |
| Florida | $45,790 |
| California | $45,370 |
| Kansas | $45,370 |
| Michigan | $45,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,310 |
| Montana | $44,820 |
| Nevada | $44,320 |
| Virginia | $44,180 |
| Tennessee | $43,870 |
| Maryland | $43,790 |
| Georgia | $43,610 |
| Texas | $43,470 |
| Ohio | $43,420 |
| Oregon | $42,930 |
| Idaho | $42,650 |
| Utah | $42,460 |
| Louisiana | $41,600 |
| Alabama | $40,020 |
| Arizona | $38,960 |
| South Dakota | $38,850 |
| Missouri | $38,570 |
| Kentucky | $38,250 |
| South Carolina | $37,960 |
| West Virginia | $37,930 |
| Mississippi | $37,620 |
| North Carolina | $37,530 |
| Arkansas | $37,240 |
| Nebraska | $37,090 |
| Wyoming | $37,030 |
| Oklahoma | $36,880 |
| Iowa | $36,510 |
| New Mexico | $36,340 |
| Guam | $29,240 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,170 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for pest control workers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $46,744 | 3.5% | 0.74 |
| Great Lakes | $45,773 | 8.2% | 0.59 |
| Far Western US | $45,715 | 17.0% | 1.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $45,580 | 2.7% | 0.73 |
| Middle Atlantic | $45,296 | 10.8% | 0.75 |
| Southeast | $42,306 | 39.3% | 1.66 |
| Southwest | $41,574 | 14.1% | 1.18 |
| Plains States | $40,886 | 3.9% | 0.64 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George, UT | UT | $51,540 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $51,200 | 660 |
| Kingston, NY | NY | $50,970 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $50,760 | 620 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $50,710 | 90 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $50,550 | 200 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $50,380 | 50 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $49,560 | 250 |
Which Industries Hire Pest Control Workers
The bulk of pest control workers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 92,430 | $44,660 |
| Educational Services | 260 | $49,520 |
| Manufacturing | 160 | $56,990 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 150 | $42,720 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 110 | $37,000 |
| Wholesale Trade | 100 | $44,630 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 90 | $48,530 |
| Construction | 40 | $46,490 |
Below are examples of industries where pest control workers work:
Software Pest Control Workers Use
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of pest control workers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Telephone Conversations
- Exposed to Contaminants
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level pest control workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineers (Supplemental)
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Soil and Plant Scientists (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health (Supplemental)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (Primary-Long)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers).
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