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Pest Control Workers in California
Thinking about a career as a Pest Control Workers in California? Here’s what you need to know. Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
What do Pest Control Workers Make in California?
For pest control workers working in California, the median annual wage is $45,370 per year (or roughly $21.81/hour).Earnings range from $35,780 at the 10th percentile to $59,180 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| 25th percentile | $36,970 | $17.77 |
| Median (50th) | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| 75th percentile | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 90th percentile | $59,180 | $28.45 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 1.09.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, pest control workers earn a median of $34,377 per year ($16.53/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 336,869 pest control workers nationwide. In California alone, approximately 12,290 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,010 pest control workers.
Top California Metros for Pest Control Workers
The largest metro-area employers of pest control workers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,920 | $46,040 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,560 | $40,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,420 | $38,580 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,320 | $45,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,170 | $47,420 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 530 | $48,040 |
| Fresno, CA | 470 | $39,800 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 340 | $45,250 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 320 | $43,790 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 200 | $43,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 190 | $46,760 |
| Modesto, CA | 170 | $44,730 |
| Visalia, CA | 170 | $36,900 |
| Salinas, CA | 150 | $46,160 |
| Redding, CA | 140 | $38,100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 140 | $45,930 |
| Chico, CA | 120 | $39,530 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 90 | $46,280 |
| Vallejo, CA | 90 | $47,920 |
| Yuba City, CA | 80 | $45,950 |
| Merced, CA | 70 | $39,480 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 50 | $48,600 |
| El Centro, CA | 30 | $40,320 |
Top States for Pest Control Workers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most pest control workers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 12,290 |
| Florida | 11,130 |
| Texas | 8,640 |
| Georgia | 5,720 |
| North Carolina | 4,550 |
| New York | 3,870 |
| Arizona | 3,370 |
| Virginia | 3,050 |
| Tennessee | 2,930 |
| South Carolina | 2,700 |
| New Jersey | 2,480 |
| Alabama | 2,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,250 |
| Illinois | 2,130 |
| Ohio | 2,090 |
| Louisiana | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | 1,670 |
| Indiana | 1,570 |
| Maryland | 1,520 |
| Washington | 1,420 |
Highest-Paying States for Pest Control Workers
These states pay the most for pest control workers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $50,450 |
| Washington | $50,190 |
| Maine | $49,940 |
| North Dakota | $48,840 |
| New Hampshire | $48,750 |
| New York | $48,470 |
| Hawaii | $48,420 |
| Wisconsin | $48,370 |
| Alaska | $47,930 |
| Indiana | $47,130 |
Skills
Top pest control workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for pest control workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, pest control workers typically:
- 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.
- Study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested area and determine treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation.
- Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.
- Post warning signs and lock building doors to secure area to be fumigated.
- Set mechanical traps, or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches.
- Cut or bore openings in building or surrounding concrete, access infested areas, insert nozzle, and inject pesticide to impregnate ground.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks
Related Careers
Careers similar to pest control workers include:
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Agricultural Technicians
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Also Known As
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).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 37-2021.00
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