Pest Control Workers
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
Also called: Certified Pest Control Technician · Commercial Pest Control Technician · Exterminator · Pest Control Applicator · Pest Control Chemical Technician · Pest Control Operator
Median pay (national)
$44,730
$32,460–$61,410 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
96,110
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.9%
~13,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for pest control workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $61,410 versus $32,460 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $44,730 leaves roughly 37% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.9% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 13,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, Colorado pays the most for this role (median $50,450, +13% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $27,170 — a 86% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Pest Control Workers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Pest Control Workers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- Record work activities performed.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.
- Set mechanical traps, or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches.
Tools & technology
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Database software
- Marathon Data Systems PestPac
- Report writing software
- Supply inventory software
- Work scheduling software
- YouTube
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Law and Government
- Sales and Marketing
- Mechanical