How to hire a pest control applicator

How to hire a pest control applicator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pest control applicator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pest control applicator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pest control applicator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a pest control applicator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A pest control applicator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, pest control applicators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents pest control applicator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Pest Control Applicator	Description	Hourly rate
   Pest Control Applicator	Pest control workers remove unwanted creatures, such as roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, and termites that infest buildings and surrounding areas.	$11-37
   Pest Control Technician	A pest control technician is responsible for dealing with pest problems and evaluating the correct processes and materials for eliminating them. Pest control technicians' duties include assessing the client's location to identify the source of the pest problem, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, providing pest treatment options to the customers, spraying pesticides on the appropriate area, and adhering to safety procedures... Show more	$11-26

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pest Control
   • Customer Service
   • Web Application
   • Windows
   • QA
   • Troubleshoot
   • MVC
   • Test Data
   • Test Automation Scripts
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Schedule Estimates

   Responsibilities:

   • Apply exterior chemicals to manage and treat for insect and rodent infestations.
   • Apply pesticides in residential and commercial dwellings according to manufacturing and EPA regulations.
   • Enter data into handheld Juno Trimble GPS unit.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pest control applicator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A pest control applicator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, pest control applicators' average salary in idaho is 49% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pest control applicators earn 71% less than senior-level pest control applicators.
   • Certifications. A pest control applicator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a pest control applicator's salary.

   Average pest control applicator salary

   $42,824yearly

   $20.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pest control applicator salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a pest control applicator job description

   A good pest control applicator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a pest control applicator job description:

   Pest control applicator job description example

   IMMEDIATELY HIRING FOR LAWN FERTILIZER TECHNICIAN / PEST CONTROL APPLICATOR Our Lawn Care business is growing so fast we are currently looking for experienced Lawn Fertilizer Technicians and Pest Control Applicators OR someone interested in learning these skills! Are you happy at your current job? Do you feel respected, valued, appreciated, and have fun? Are you proud to show your friends and family where you work? These are major focuses here at Summit Lawns!
   
   If you enjoy working outdoors and are looking for a professional, positive work environment than this lawn technician position may be what you're looking for!
   
   COMPENSATION:
   

   • Depending on your years of experience and how motivated you are to be a kickass Lawn Ranger here at Summit, this position can pay anywhere from $34,000 - $48,000/yearly
   • Google Review bonuses
   • Sign-on bonus
   • Seasonal bonuses in summer and in winter
   • Paid time off
   • Vacation and sick pay
   • Health, vision and other benefits
   • Did we mention tons of opportunities for bonuses every day?!
   • Room for advancement

   What we offer you:
   

   • EMPLOYEE FOCUSED! Our General Laborers feel appreciated!
   • Good weekly, on-time direct deposit paycheck
   • A FULL KITCHEN of free food, breakfast sandwiches, snacks, Gatorade, candy, coffee, etc yours for the taking every day. You name it, we have it. Even a few after-work brewskis from time to time
   • Opinions welcome – If you have good ideas, let’s hear them! Maybe your idea will make a major change around here
   • We are extremely team-focused. A main core value at Summit is No Crew Left Behind: We are helpful to each other, even if it’s not our job. Someone else is having a hard time and needs an extra hand to finish out the day? No problem, we got you homie.

   
   
   Qualifications:
   
   

   • Valid Driver License
   • A desire to learn new skills
   • Able to talk professionally with customers at their homes
   • Able to physically handle all tasks necessary

   
   
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right pest control applicator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with pest control applicators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit pest control applicators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pest control applicator job on Zippia to find and recruit pest control applicator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting pest control applicators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pest control applicator

   Once you've found the pest control applicator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new pest control applicator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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