Pest Controller

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Work Tasks

• Spray chemicals and set traps to get rid of pests such as mice, termites, and roaches
• Inspect restaurants, hotels, homes, offices, food stores, and other buildings for pests
• Put pest killing chemicals in infested areas and return to check that pests are gone
• Keep records of what they do for each customer
• Work indoors and outdoors for pest control firms, the government, or are self-employed
• Work with chemical sprays, sprayers, traps, poisonous pastes, powders, drills, power tools, hand tools, rakes, brooms, shovels, and mops

Salary, Size & Growth

• $31,500 average per year ($15.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (85,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A high school diploma and on-the-job training
• Employers Prefer: Completing an apprenticeship and certification
• Skills/Courses: Training in pesticide safety, general pest control, rodent control, termite control, fumigation, and shrubbery and grass pest control
• Certification/Licensing: At least one person on each team needs to be a certified pest controller.