How to Become a Pest Control Technician: Career Path Guide
If you want to become a pest control technician, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for you.
Are you interested in helping people protect against threats to their health and their property? Are you able to work alone, and are not afraid to deal with various insects and animals for a living? If so, then you may be well suited for a career as a pest control technician.
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a pest control technician. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Education Needed to Become a Pest Control Technician
To become a pest control technician, employers typically require you to have at least a high school diploma. Employers typically provide pest control technicians with on the job technical training. This gives them knowledge, skills and competencies in areas such as rodent control, termite control, fumigation, ornamental and turf control, and pesticide use and safety. This training is usually be completed in less than 3 months.
Pest Control Technician Job Description
Pest control technicians are responsible for preventing and controlling the spread of insects and other pests that may infest homes, restaurants, warehouses, business and other establishments. By removing pests, pest control technicians help prevent damage to these properties and remove various threats to the safety and health of the occupants.
Pest Control Technician Job Duties
• Inspect buildings and surrounding areas to identify signs of infestation by insects, birds, rodents or other pests
• Determine if treatment is necessary based on severity of infestation
• Determine the type of treatment necessary
• Provide client with cost estimate
• Treat the infested area with the appropriate pesticide
• May use traps or extreme temperatures as solutions to infestation
• Ensure pesticide does not cause immediate or long term harm to inhabitants of treated building
Who Hires Pest Control Technicians? Where Do They Work?
The following types of organizations employ the pest control technicians:
• Pest control companies
• Municipal, state/provincial and federal government departments
• Manufacturing companies
• Schools and school boards
• Self-employment
Pest Control Technician Salary: How Much Do They Earn?
The salary level of pest control technicians can vary depending on factors such as whether or not they own their own business, where they work, their level of experience, and many others.
Pest Control Technician Salary Alberta: According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Pest Controllers and Fumigators occupational group earned an average wage between $25.15 and $27.98 per hour.
Pest Control Technician Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of workers in the Pest Control Workers occupational group is $33,840 per year. The lowest 10 percent earn less than $20,340, and the top 10 percent earn more than $46,930 per year.
Career Advancement for Pest Control Technicians
With enough experience, pest control technicians may advance into supervisory or management roles within their organization, or with an external organization. They may also become self-employed in pest-control by opening their own business.
Careers Similar to Pest Control Technician
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to Pest Control Technician, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
• Hazardous Waste Technologist
References: How to Become a Pest Control Technician
Please use the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a pest control technician.
Occupations in Alberta: “Structural Pesticide Applicator.” (March 24, 2015). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
Building & Grounds Cleaning: “Pest Control Workers.” (September 4, 2019). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
Careers: “Pesticide licenses and permits.” (October 29, 2019). Government of Ontario - Department of Environment & Energy website. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
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Scholarships for Becoming a Pest Control Technician
Scholarships listed for majors that apply to becoming a Pest Control Technician can be found on the following pages:
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Becoming a Pest-Control Technician: Applicable Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point to becoming a pest-control technician. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
