Pest control workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Mean (average) | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| 90th percentile | $61,890 | $29.75 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Pest control workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,410 | $31,100 | $50,110 | 2,540 | 1.82 |
| Alaska | $46,900 | $35,580 | $75,180 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Arizona | $44,430 | $36,820 | $62,910 | 3,200 | 1.5 |
| Arkansas | $37,710 | $30,900 | $55,970 | 1,030 | 1.2 |
| California | $47,190 | $37,110 | $65,580 | ||
| Colorado | $48,650 | $38,610 | $71,230 | 970 | 0.51 |
| Connecticut | $49,010 | $39,470 | $58,590 | 880 | 0.78 |
| Delaware | $45,300 | $31,200 | $74,090 | 300 | 0.94 |
| Florida | $44,320 | $34,960 | $61,890 | 12,400 | 1.89 |
| Georgia | $37,860 | $29,310 | $61,520 | 5,770 | 1.79 |
| Guam | $28,340 | $24,020 | $43,880 | 40 | 1.01 |
| Hawaii | $48,570 | $35,500 | $62,670 | 740 | 1.79 |
| Idaho | $40,220 | $35,940 | $47,340 | 620 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $46,450 | $36,120 | $62,450 | 2,470 | 0.61 |
| Indiana | $38,600 | $35,290 | $60,920 | 1,670 | 0.79 |
| Iowa | $45,290 | $35,750 | $57,250 | 540 | 0.52 |
| Kansas | $38,690 | $27,590 | $60,000 | 760 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | $42,310 | $30,130 | $61,670 | 1,030 | 0.78 |
| Louisiana | $44,570 | $27,850 | $58,220 | 1,930 | 1.51 |
| Maine | $48,340 | $46,130 | $60,300 | 320 | 0.76 |
| Maryland | $47,360 | $37,810 | $65,500 | 1,670 | 0.91 |
| Massachusetts | $45,560 | $36,750 | $62,170 | 1,900 | 0.79 |
| Michigan | $44,470 | $38,630 | $61,850 | 1,460 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota | $41,640 | $27,180 | $70,720 | 670 | 0.34 |
| Mississippi | $37,200 | $28,700 | $53,890 | 960 | 1.25 |
| Missouri | $42,690 | $29,850 | $48,560 | 1,440 | 0.74 |
| Montana | $41,730 | $38,360 | $60,350 | 100 | 0.3 |
| Nebraska | $38,960 | $29,330 | $66,200 | 460 | 0.68 |
| Nevada | $49,240 | $36,680 | $81,420 | 790 | 0.77 |
| New Hampshire | $48,000 | $45,570 | $58,960 | 260 | 0.57 |
| New Jersey | $48,780 | $39,830 | $59,680 | 2,270 | 0.8 |
| New Mexico | $37,070 | $28,600 | $70,410 | 320 | 0.56 |
| New York | $48,530 | $37,550 | $71,960 | 4,220 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $44,740 | $31,990 | $61,900 | 4,870 | 1.49 |
| North Dakota | $48,020 | $44,600 | $62,580 | 120 | 0.41 |
| Ohio | $40,110 | $35,590 | $58,890 | 2,170 | 0.59 |
| Oklahoma | $39,050 | $29,220 | $58,160 | 1,310 | 1.16 |
| Oregon | $46,570 | $39,890 | $59,270 | 740 | 0.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,720 | $36,910 | $60,000 | 2,260 | 0.56 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,410 | $21,840 | $51,870 | 300 | 0.49 |
| Rhode Island | $45,030 | $36,920 | $65,250 | 270 | 0.82 |
| South Carolina | $43,130 | $32,850 | $59,890 | 2,660 | 1.75 |
| South Dakota | $49,920 | $39,460 | $68,950 | 190 | 0.63 |
| Tennessee | $39,690 | $30,570 | $56,270 | 3,340 | 1.54 |
| Texas | $37,660 | $29,550 | $59,630 | 9,470 | 1.02 |
| Utah | $44,740 | $33,280 | $47,640 | 1,050 | 0.92 |
| Vermont | $46,320 | $36,510 | $63,940 | 80 | 0.42 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,330 | $29,340 | $48,180 | 30 | 1.46 |
| Virginia | $45,950 | $37,020 | $61,510 | 3,040 | 1.12 |
| Washington | $51,300 | $44,340 | $61,190 | 1,430 | 0.61 |
| West Virginia | $37,510 | $26,080 | $50,780 | 460 | 0.99 |
| Wisconsin | $45,350 | $36,800 | $59,750 | 1,060 | 0.54 |
| Wyoming | $44,500 | $29,380 | $71,920 | 50 | 0.29 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for pest control workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for pest control workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
- Email software
- Marathon Data Systems PestPac
- Report writing software
- Supply inventory software
- Work scheduling software
- YouTube
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: 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).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pest control workers make?
The national median annual wage for pest control workers was $45,250 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,680 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pest control workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pest control workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pest control workers to change +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pest control workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($51,300), South Dakota ($49,920), Nevada ($49,240). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.