Pest Control Workers: Salary Overview
Pest control workers remove roaches, rats, ants, and other unwanted pests from buildings and surrounded areas.
Their job description typically includes, among other tasks, inspecting buildings to determine if there are any signs of infestation, determining the best treatment for the specific problem, estimating costs, applying pesticides, and creating barriers to prevent pests from entering the building.
Typically there are two types of pest control workers: pest control technicians and applicators.
Pest control technicians identify potential problems and design pest control strategies while applicators are the ones who apply the pesticides.
A pest control worker’s job can be dangerous as they may come in contact with potentially hazardous substances if they don’t follow very strict safety and sanitation rules.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession was remunerated, on a median, with $37,330 per year- which is less than the average salary for all professions in the United States.
This means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries vary depending on a variety of factors, including the worker’s level of skills, certifications, experience but also the industry of employment, the region, and the local economy.
The bottom 10 percent of all pest control workers reportedly made less than $24,920 per year while the highest 10 percent earned more than $60,320 annually.
Pest Control Worker Salary by Industry
According to BLS, pest control workers held 87,600 jobs in the United States in 2019.
There are several fields where pest control workers may find employment, but the vast majority of them (87%) worked for companies that provide services to buildings and dwellings.
The average annual wage reported by pest control workers who were employed in this sector was $37,750.
Higher salaries were reported by those who worked for local governments- where the average annual wage for this profession was $41,000.
The few who worked for the federal executive branch reportedly took home $56,330 per year, on average, while those who worked for companies that provide management of companies and enterprises services reported salaries that averaged at $43,170.
The average annual wage reported by pest control workers who were employed by elementary and secondary schools was $41,570.
Other fields where pest control workers held jobs in 2019 are the grain and oilseed milling field, companies that provide warehousing and storage services, state governments, and businesses that offer facilities support services.
However, in these fields, pest control workers held very few jobs, so job openings for this profession may not occur very often.
There are many other factors that can help a pest control worker improve his/her earnings, including education and experience level.
Pest control workers need a license in order to be allowed to practice.
Most of them begin their careers as technicians and receive on-the-job training from their employer in rodent control, termite control, and fumigators but they also must complete training in pesticide use and safety.
Some states require pest control workers to complete an apprenticeship period before receiving the state license.
Because pest control methods often change, workers in this profession typically need continuing education in order to maintain their license.
After gaining a few years of experience in the field, pest control workers may advance to supervisory positions and some of them may start their own pest control company.
Salaries vary depending on the career level.
While entry-level employees typically earn a salary that is close to the minimum for this profession, experienced workers, especially those who have good management skills may become team supervisors, a position which implies additional responsibilities but also a higher salary.
In conclusion, as a pest control worker, your salary will most likely increase as you advance in your career.
* Based on information from the May 2024 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Pest Control Workers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.