Career Overview
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 Known As
- Exterminator
- Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech)
- Pest Technician
- Residential Pest Control Technician
Alternate Job Titles
- Bed Bug Exterminator
- Certified Pest Control Technician
- Chemical Applicator
- Commercial Pest Control Representative
- Commercial Pest Control Technician
- Commercial Technician
- Extermination Inspector
- Exterminator
- Field Service Representative (Field Service Rep)
- Field Service Technician
- Fumigator
- Hand Spray Operator
- Insecticide Expert
- Insecticide Sprayer
- Mosquito Control Technician (Mosquito Control Tech)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Far Vision
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Support
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Bait stations
- Bellows dusters
- Brooms
- Bulb dusters
- Chemical-resistant footwear
- Chemical-resistant suits
- Claw hammers
- Cold foggers
- Copy machines
- Digital still cameras
- Electric drills
- Flathead shovels
- Garden rakes
- Gasoline powered generators
Work Environment
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Telephone Conversations
- Exposed to Contaminants
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $32,460 |
| Median | $44,730 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $61,410 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 96,110
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,200
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $48,490
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,140
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $38,090
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,260
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.