What does a Pest Control Technician do?
Pest Control Technicians often work as contractors or full-time employees for extermination companies. They act as representatives for the company and handle service calls when customers require assistance locating and removing unwanted pests. In many cases, Pest Control Technicians return to homes and businesses after performing initial treatments to determine if additional remediation procedures are required and/or to remove deceased rodents and other animals.
By performing their job duties proficiently, a Pest Control Technician helps to ensure customer satisfaction, increasing the chances of positive word-of-mouth marketing that allows exterminator businesses to grow. In addition, a successful Pest Control Technician limits liability for their employers by ensuring the safe handling and application of hazardous products, such as pesticides and poison baits.
Pest Control Technician skills and qualifications
A successful Pest Control Technician candidate should possess the skills and qualifications that meet the prerequisites of the position you’re hiring for, including:
- Knowledge of the safety protocols for pest control, including wearing properly fitted respirators when working with chemicals and donning protective clothing and gloves
- Ability to move heavy equipment from one place to another
- Familiarity with electrical and plumbing systems to recognize damage caused by pests
- Ability to remain upright and access places where pests hide, such as in basements, crawl spaces and attics
- Interpersonal and communication skills to ensure positive interactions with customers
- Observation and analytical skills to spot signs of infestation and determine what pests are present
- Attention to detail to reduce errors and ensure the effectiveness of treatment procedures
- Willingness to learn new extermination techniques and procedures based on industry trends
Pest Control Technician experience requirements
How much experience a Pest Control Technician needs will depend on your open position. If you’re looking to add a new member to a team of experienced technicians, hiring an apprentice and then providing on-the-job training may be sufficient. For a position that involves less one-on-one supervision and requires more independent work, you may want to specify a few years of experience in applying pesticides, conducting inspections, trapping rodents and setting up traps as a requirement in your Pest Control Technician job description.
Pest Control Technician education and training requirements
There are generally no education requirements for becoming a Pest Control Technician, and most techs don’t have any formal post-secondary education. Instead, technicians typically learn on the job through shadowing and apprenticeship programs.
In most states, Pest Control Technicians must be licensed to work independently in the field or perform certain treatments, such as applying pesticides. Licensing requirements can vary significantly by state and may include apprenticeship experience, on-the-job training and the completion of a pesticide safety education course.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also requires Pest Control Technicians who work with certain chemicals to become certified. Qualifications for certification vary based on area of specialty but typically include completing a training course and/or passing an exam. Depending on the nature of your open position, you may wish to prioritize candidates who are already licensed and certified.
Pest Control Technician salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Pest Control Technician is $47,642 per year. However, salaries can vary depending on experience, licensing and certification status, geographical location and company.
Pest Control Technician salary expectations
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Common salary:
19.92 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.45 -38.25 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
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Frequently asked questions about Pest Control Technician job descriptions
How can you make your pest control job description stand out?
One way to make your job description stand out is to include graphics or color images in your posting. Keep the wording positive and inviting to encourage people to apply. At the top of the description, highlight the benefits of working for your company in a bulleted list format. You can include bonuses, insurance benefits and retirement plans with employer match in your summary.
Who does a Pest Control Technician report to?
Pest Control Technicians report to lead technicians and pest control company owners. In addition, apprentices and individuals participating in on-the-job training programs report to the Pest Control Technicians training them.
What qualities make for a good Pest Control Technician?
Flexibility and adaptability are two great traits for a Pest Control Technician, as specific job duties can vary from day to day. Individuals who enjoy solving problems and educating others are likely to succeed in the role, as are those with an interest in learning on an ongoing basis.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.