Pest Control Technician Training
This is a highly regulated industry that requires continuous training and licensing. One of the greatest benefits of entering the pest control industry is the opportunity to receive extensive on-the-job and classroom training. A high school diploma or G.E.D., a valid driver’s license and criminal background check are all that is needed for most technician positions. Many pest control companies will work with new hires to provide comprehensive training programs to ensure they are prepared for anything and everything they could potentially come across in the field.
Exterminator Job Requirements
Good communication skills and a genuine desire to learn the pest control business are a must! Technicians will also need to be able to solve problems, manage time, pay attention to details and learn skills to assist in conflict resolution. Employers are looking for self-starters capable of managing their own day.
While performing the duties of this job, there are also physical requirements. Pest control technicians are frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. A typical day as a technician will require reaching with hands and arms, climbing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, etc. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
Exterminator Job Responsibilities
Technicians are responsible for speaking with customers and genuinely listening to their concerns, conducting extensive inspections, problem solving and correcting pest control problems by implementing exclusion methods, applying product when and where necessary, following product label instructions, and utilizing baiting and monitoring systems. They are also responsible for communicating regularly with office personnel and their sales team to ensure strong customer service and follow up needs are addressed.
*Disclaimer: Exact compensation and benefits packages are at the discretion of individual employers. Data is provided by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and BLS.gov.
Pest Control Technician Job Description
A technician’s role in a pest control company is to control or prevent pest problems, but it also goes beyond that. It's important to be a people person, as building relationships with customers and educating them about how to reduce the pest problems in their homes or businesses are essential parts of the job.
Technicians are also the first line of defense when it comes to a pest infestation, so people are trusting them to get to the bottom of their problem and keep pests at bay. It’s important to always keep in mind that this is a people business, not a bug business, and at the end of the day, pest control technicians are helping to improve people’s quality of life by protecting their families, homes and businesses from pest threats.
Pest Control Technician Training
This is a highly regulated industry that requires continuous training and licensing. One of the greatest benefits of entering the pest control industry is the opportunity to receive extensive on-the-job and classroom training. A high school diploma or G.E.D., a valid driver’s license and criminal background check are all that is needed for most technician positions. Many pest control companies will work with new hires to provide comprehensive training programs to ensure they are prepared for anything and everything they could potentially come across in the field.
Pest Control Technician Work environment
As a pest control technician, you would have the opportunity to work in many different types of environments – a typical day can take you inside and outside people’s homes, storage facilities, warehouses, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and everywhere in between.
During a normal workday, you may be required to:
- Set your own schedule to complete a route designated by your employer
- Communicate effectively with customers about what their pest problem is and how you will solve it
- Use your ‘detective’ skills to identify their problem and provide a solution
- Use and maintain safety equipment including bump caps, gloves, goggles, respirators, eye washers, first aid kits, and spill abatement equipment
- Inspect, crawl and work in sub-areas, basements, and attics of structures
- Work with and around pest control products that have been approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency to control pests and follow labels appropriately
- Understand integrated pest management (IPM) and use the appropriate methods to treat the pests. Operate company vehicles, power sprayers, foggers, dusters, drills, vacuums, and a variety of common hand and power tools and other equipment
- Perform minor repairs on tools and related equipment as needed
Pest Control technician salary averages
According to BLS.gov, the average annual salary for pest control technicians is $37,950, and the average hourly wage is $18.24*
( Note: “The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,230, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,400.” – From BLS.gov – we can potentially include a graphic showing where the median falls in comparison to the lowest and highest wages.)
*Disclaimer: Exact compensation and benefits packages are at the discretion of individual employers.
