How to become a Pest Control Worker
Official title: Pest Control Workers
Also called: Commercial Pest Control Technician (Commercial Pest Control Tech), Exterminator, Pest Control Applicator, Pest Control Chemical Technician (Pest Control Chemical Tech), Pest Control Operator, Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech), Pest Technician (Pest Tech), Residential Pest Control Technician (Residential Pest Control Tech), Route Technician (Route Tech), Termite Technician (Termite Tech)
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
Main tasks
- Record work activities performed.
- Clean work site after completion of job.
- Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
- Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
- Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
- Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.
How to become one
Pest control workers typically need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training. State laws require pest control workers to be licensed.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Exterminator, Termite.
- Licence: A licence is required in 11 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $45,250 a year The middle half earn $37,440 to $49,600.
- About 108,700 people work in this job now, and about 114,700 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Pest Control Worker?
Pest control workers typically need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training. State laws require pest control workers to be licensed.
How much does a Pest Control Worker earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $45,250 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $37,440 to $49,600.
Is a Pest Control Worker a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 108,700 to about 114,700 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Pest Control Worker?
Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Exterminator, Termite.
Will AI change the work of a Pest Control Worker?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.