Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance · Holland code RCI
Pest Control Workers
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 called: Pest Control Applicator, Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech), Pest Technician (Pest Tech), Termite Technician (Termite Tech), Commercial Pest Control Technician (Commercial Pest Control Tech), Exterminator, Pest Control Chemical Technician (Pest Control Chemical Tech), Pest Control Operator.
O*NET 37-2021.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $45,250
- Middle half earn $37,440 to $49,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
- US employment outlook, 2024 to 2034
- +5% · Faster than average
- 102,400 jobs in 2024, projected 107,500. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which groups this with similar roles as "Pest control workers".
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Record work activities performed.
- Clean work site after completion of job.
- Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.
- Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
- Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
- Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
- Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
- Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Active Listening3.8 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Writing3.6 / 5
- Speaking3.6 / 5
- Monitoring3.6 / 5
- Active Learning3.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.4 / 5
- Chemistry3.6 / 5
- Mathematics3.5 / 5
- Biology3.2 / 5
- Law and Government3.2 / 5
- Public Safety and Security3.1 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic98
- Investigative32
- Artistic0
- Social11
- Enterprising20
- Conventional53
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- arboriculturist · DE Arborist/Arboristin · FR arboriculteur/arboricultrice
- asbestos abatement worker · DE Asbestsanierer/Asbestsaniererin · FR désamianteur/désamianteuse
- building exterior cleaner · DE Fassadenreiniger/Fassadenreinigerin · FR agent de nettoyage des extérieurs des bâtiments/agente de nettoyage des extérieurs des bâtiments
- chimney sweep · DE Schornsteinfeger/Schornsteinfegerin · FR ramoneur/ramoneuse
- chimney sweep supervisor · DE Schornsteinfegermeister/Schornsteinfegermeisterin · FR chef d’équipe de ramoneurs
- decontamination worker · DE Dekontaminateur/Dekontaminateurin · FR agent de décontamination/agente de décontamination
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Pest controllers (6121)6,400 employed
- Farm workers (9111)40,700 employed
- Horticultural trades (5112)13,700 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €40,086 |
| Germany | €38,638 |
| Austria | €38,194 |
| Sweden | €37,856 |
| Netherlands | €37,077 |
| Ireland | €36,098 |
| France | €27,145 |
| Italy | €26,488 |
| Spain | €22,817 |
| Portugal | €11,142 |
| Poland | €10,099 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.73. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (37-2021).
Related careers
- Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
Take the career interests test