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What is a Pest Control Worker?
Job Description & Duties Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
A Day in the Life of a Pest Control Worker
- Record work activities performed.
- Clean work site after completion of job.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Dig up and burn, or spray weeds with herbicides.
- Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
- Cut or bore openings in building or surrounding concrete, access infested areas, insert nozzle, and inject pesticide to impregnate ground.
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Pest Control Worker Skills
These are the skills Pest Control Workers say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Types of Pest Control Worker Jobs
- Spray Worker
- Termite Technician
- Rodent Control Worker
- Rat Exterminator
- Pest Control Operator
Are There Job Opportunities for Pest Control Workers?
There were about 78,900 jobs for Pest Control Worker in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,500 new jobs for Pest Control Worker by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 11,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Pest Control Worker are Washington, Nevada, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in Georgia, Alaska, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Pest Control Worker Make?
The average yearly salary of a Pest Control Worker ranges between $23,230 and $57,400.
Pest Control Workers who work in Massachusetts, Washington, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Pest Control Workers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $32,650 |
Arizona | $38,040 |
Arkansas | $31,720 |
California | $42,100 |
Colorado | $35,200 |
Connecticut | $38,540 |
Delaware | $42,070 |
Florida | $34,060 |
Georgia | $35,210 |
Hawaii | $39,860 |
Idaho | $31,310 |
Illinois | $36,910 |
Indiana | $38,390 |
Iowa | $38,490 |
Kansas | $32,950 |
Kentucky | $34,000 |
Louisiana | $31,560 |
Maine | $32,030 |
Maryland | $40,150 |
Massachusetts | $47,750 |
Michigan | $42,380 |
Minnesota | $39,910 |
Mississippi | $35,660 |
Missouri | $34,420 |
Montana | $41,180 |
Nebraska | $40,310 |
Nevada | $42,880 |
New Hampshire | $38,210 |
New Jersey | $39,840 |
New Mexico | $38,250 |
New York | $39,960 |
North Carolina | $35,330 |
North Dakota | $35,160 |
Ohio | $40,820 |
Oklahoma | $30,790 |
Oregon | $38,420 |
Pennsylvania | $38,840 |
Rhode Island | $35,730 |
South Carolina | $32,460 |
South Dakota | $36,190 |
Tennessee | $41,870 |
Texas | $42,030 |
Utah | $30,870 |
Virginia | $40,800 |
Washington | $46,160 |
West Virginia | $28,860 |
Wisconsin | $35,290 |
Wyoming | $37,670 |
What Tools & Technology do Pest Control Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pest Control Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- YouTube
- Work scheduling software
How to Become a Pest Control Worker
Individuals working as a Pest Control Worker have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pest Control Worker?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Pest Control Worker may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Pest Control Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.