What do they do?
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 known as:
Commercial Pest Control Technician (Commercial Pest Control Tech), Commercial Technician (Commercial Tech), Exterminator, Pest Control Applicator, Pest Control Chemical Technician (Pest Control Chemical Tech), Pest Control Operator, Pest Control Specialist, Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech), Pest Technician (Pest Tech), Residential Pest Control Technician (Residential Pest Control Tech), Route Technician (Route Tech), Termite Technician (Termite Tech)
No Data Available
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3.4%
Change
Ranks #37 in job growth rate260Job Openings
Ranks #15 in net job growth
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- High school diploma equivalent (46%)
- Some college, no degree (28%)
- Bachelor's degree (9%)
- Associate's degree (8%)
- Less than high school diploma (8%)
- Master's degree (1%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (<1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Pest Control Workers
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#1
-
Degrees Granted
6,042
-
Female Students
257
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Male Students
5,785
-
Median Starting Salary
$56,989
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-
#2
-
Degrees Granted
1,185
-
Female Students
559
-
Male Students
626
-
Median Starting Salary
$37,600
-
-
#3
-
Degrees Granted
1,005
-
Female Students
335
-
Male Students
670
-
Median Starting Salary
$41,500
-
-
#4
-
Degrees Granted
758
-
Female Students
220
-
Male Students
538
-
Median Starting Salary
$57,600
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-
#5
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Degrees Granted
724
-
Female Students
105
-
Male Students
619
-
Median Starting Salary
$56,989
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People in this career often have these skills:
- 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.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Document work hours or activities.
- Clean facilities or sites.
- Estimate maintenance service requirements or costs.
- Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances.
- Recommend products or services to customers.
- Inspect buildings or grounds to determine condition.
- Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites.
- Supervise maintenance workers.
- Treat facilities to eliminate pests.
- Block physical access to restricted areas.
- Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
- Evaluate reports or designs to determine work needs.
- Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
- Apply protective coverings to objects or surfaces near work areas.
- Position safety or support equipment.
This page includes data from:
Career data:
O*NET 31.0 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics
Videos:
CareerOneStop
, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
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