2. Maine
$39,607
Avg. Salary
Those creepy crawly pests that show up everywhere aren't a fan of pest control technicians. That's because these technicians are professionals when it comes to getting rid of those guys. Primarily, the technicians visit individual homes and businesses to rid the places of rats, termites, snakes, wasps, ants, spiders, mosquitos and bed bugs.
Do you have the chills right now? So do we. Luckily, these technicians have access to the best defenders against these pests including chemical solutions, powders and even gases. Special circumstances may even call for mechanical traps and bait. For the most part, pest control technicians only need a high school diploma before they're allowed to be unleashed on pests.
Pest control workers remove unwanted creatures, such as roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, and termites that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
DutiesPest control workers typically do the following:
Unwanted pests that infest buildings and surrounding areas can pose serious risks to the health and safety of occupants. Pest control workers control, manage, and remove these creatures from homes, apartments, offices, and other structures to protect people and to maintain the structural integrity of buildings.
To design and carry out integrated pest management plans, pest control workers must know the identity and biology of a wide range of pests. They must also know the best ways to control and remove the pests.
Although roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, and termites are the most common pests, some pest control workers also remove irritant birds and other wildlife.
Pest control workers’ position titles and job duties often vary by state.
The following are examples of types of pest control workers:
Pest control technicians identify potential and actual pest problems, conduct inspections, and design control strategies. They work directly with customers and, as entry-level workers, use only a limited range of pesticides.
Applicators use a wide range of pesticides and may specialize in a particular area of pest control:
Termite control technicians use chemicals and modify structures to eliminate termites and prevent future infestations. Some also repair structural damage caused by termites and build barriers to separate pests from their food source.
State laws require pest control workers to be licensed. Most workers need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training, usually lasting less than 3 months.
Many pest control companies require that employees have good driving records.
EducationA high school diploma or equivalent is typically the minimum qualification for most pest control jobs.
TrainingMost pest control workers begin as technicians, receiving both formal technical instruction and moderate-term on-the-job training from employers. They often study specialties such as rodent control, termite control, and fumigation. Technicians also must complete general training in pesticide use and safety. Pest control training can usually be completed in less than 3 months.
After completing the required training, workers are qualified to provide pest control services. Because pest control methods change, workers often attend continuing education classes.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsPest control workers must be licensed. Licensure requirements vary by state, but workers usually must complete training and pass an exam. Some states have additional requirements, such as having a high school diploma or equivalent, completing an apprenticeship, and passing a background check. States may have additional requirements for applicators.
AdvancementPest control workers typically advance as they gain experience. Applicators with several years of experience often become supervisors. Some experienced workers start their own pest management company.
Important QualitiesBookkeeping skills. Pest control workers must keep accurate records of the hours they work, chemicals they use, and payments they collect. Self-employed workers, in particular, need these skills in order to run their business.
Customer-service skills. Pest control workers should be friendly and polite when they interact with customers at their homes or businesses.
Detail oriented. Because pest control workers apply pesticides, they need to be able to follow instructions carefully in order to prevent harm to residents, pets, the environment, and themselves.
Physical stamina. Pest control workers may spend hours on their feet, often crouching, kneeling, and crawling. They also must be able to withstand uncomfortable conditions, such as heat when they climb into attics in the summertime and cold when they enter crawl spaces during winter.
Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the right jobs to get there.
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a pest control technician can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as technician, progress to a title such as team leader and then eventually end up with the title sales manager.
Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the rights job to get there.
Use Zippia's Salary Calculator to see how your pay matches up.
Designing and figuring out what to include on your resume can be tough, not to mention time-consuming. That's why we put together a guide that is designed to help you craft the perfect resume for becoming a Pest Control Technician. If you're needing extra inspiration, take a look through our selection of templates that are specific to your job.
Learn How To Write a Pest Control Technician Resume
At Zippia, we went through countless Pest Control Technician resumes and compiled some information about how best to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
View Detailed InformationThe skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 24.4% of pest control technicians listed safety procedures on their resume, but soft skills such as customer-service skills and detail oriented are important as well.
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a pest control technician. The best states for people in this position are Alaska, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Maine. Pest control technicians make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $48,703. Whereas in Massachusetts and Minnesota, they would average $41,682 and $40,961, respectively. While pest control technicians would only make an average of $39,607 in Maine, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Alaska
$48,703
Avg. Salary
2. Maine
$39,607
Avg. Salary
3. Massachusetts
$41,682
Avg. Salary