What Does A Pest Control Worker Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Pest Control Workers

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.

Salary
$40350
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

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.

  • 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.
  • Post warning signs and lock building doors to secure areas to be fumigated.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Pest Control Workers record work activities performed. They recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.

A typical day for a Pest Control Worker will also include:

  • Clean work site after completion of the job.
  • Set mechanical traps or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches.
  • Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
  • Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
  • Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Pest Control Workers also cut or bore openings in building or surrounding concrete, access infested areas, insert the nozzle, and inject pesticide to impregnate ground. They may also directly or assist other workers in treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Pest Control Workers set mechanical traps or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches. They might also clean and remove blockages from infested areas to facilitate spraying procedures and provide drainage, using brooms, mops, shovels, or rakes.

In addition, they measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate the cost for service.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested areas and determine the treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation.

To some Pest Control Workers, it is also their responsibility to position and fasten edges of tarpaulins over building and tape vents to ensure an air-tight environment and check for leaks.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

High

53% said they were satisfied with their job and 64% said they found their job meaningful.


Viking Pest Control

My Typical Day A typical day for a technician or pest controller is dictated by the season. In the busy season, one could easily see 12-16 services a day. Whether the services are scheduled or not, we need to understand that no service is the same and without fail, 20% never go according to plan. … Read More


I’m an entomologist and exterminator with more than 25 years of experience. My Typical Day I worked as a solo contractor pest control specialist, so my routines included not only extermination. First of all, my job was about answering calls and messages on Facebook and WhatsApp. People described their pest problems to me, I instructed … Read More


Addison Pest Contol

My Typical Day My typical workday as a pest control technician starts between 8am and 9am. I clock in on our time tracking app and I look at my list of appointments for the day, see what pest problems I will need to solve, and then check my work van to make sure I have … Read More


Bug Zapper Pest Control

I’m a Technician and the Testing Supervisor with Bug Zapper Pest Control. My typical day My day starts off by gathering my necessary equipment for the day and take off in my truck for the first job on my schedule. We have take home trucks and our schedules are available digitally on a smartphone. We … Read More


Ant and Garden Organic Pest Control

Being a pest controller is both fun and stressful (at least for me!). But now that I have my own business, it’s more of a fun ride because of the lower stress level. My main responsibilities as a pest controller include inspecting my client’s property, identifying the treatment options to eradicate the infestation, discuss them … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.

This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$40350 per year

Average hourly wage

$19 per hour

Entry-level Pest Control Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $24,980 to $30,450 per year or $12 to $15 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $61,170 $29
Senior (Top 25%) $48,570 $23
Median $37,820 $18
Junior (Bottom 25%) $30,450 $15
No experience (Bottom 10%) $24,980 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Pest Control Workers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $59160 $28.44
State Government $52810 $25.39
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $50540 $24.30
Real Estate $47460 $22.82
Facilities Support Services $46640 $22.42
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $46280 $22.25
Warehousing and Storage $45730 $21.99
Local Government $45150 $21.71
Elementary and Secondary Schools $43650 $20.99
Services to Buildings and Dwellings $40160 $19.31

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Pest Control Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Pest Control Workers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Services to Buildings and Dwellings 76140 $40160 $19.31
Local Government 1530 $45150 $21.71
Employment Services 270 $35290 $16.97
Federal Executive Branch 260 $59160 $28.44
Management of Companies and Enterprises 240 $31370 $15.08
Elementary and Secondary Schools 170 $43650 $20.99
State Government 130 $52810 $25.39
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 100 $46280 $22.25
Warehousing and Storage 70 $45730 $21.99
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 60 $50540 $24.30

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
4%

40 hours
51%

More than 40 hours
45%

Working schedule

54%

46%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
9%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
20%

Every day
72%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
81%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
70%

Once a year
14%

Once a month
7%

Once a week
9%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
8%

Slightly competitive
25%

Moderately competitive
37%

Highly competitive
16%

Extremely competitive
15%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
24%

Once a year or more
18%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
16%

Every day
36%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
28%

Once a year or more
13%

Once a month or more
13%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
40%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
0%

Once a year or more
6%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
81%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
36%

Once a year or more
10%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
22%

Every day
25%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
90%

Post-Secondary Certificate
9%

Some College Courses
1%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
59%

1 month
7%

1 to 3 months
9%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
16%

1 to 2 years
3%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
13%

1 to 3 months
62%

3 to 6 months
20%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
4%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
29%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
29%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
43%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
57%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
48%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
43%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
67%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
71%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
76%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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