Get the Inside Scoop on the Best and Worst States for Pest Control Jobs in the U.S.
Pest control is a challenging job, even for those who have been doing it for years. Every day you battle against vermin of all sorts, fighting to keep houses clean and sanitary.
You deserve to be paid a fair salary. You work hard every day and should be getting compensated appropriately.
But how can you know what you’re worth? How can you know if you’re getting paid a fair wage? Or, if you own a pest control business, how can you set a fair and competitive rate to attract the best employees?
In the second part of our series based on Indeed.com pest control job listings, we take a close look at the job openings and pay rates in each state to give you a feel for the going rate for pest control roles and competition for talent in your area.
We scraped all 2019 data and this data should help you evaluate your own salary or the salaries you pay your employees.
We analyze the number of jobs by state, how many of those jobs are entry, mid, and senior-level, and the average hourly rate for each state.
Number of Pest Control Job Openings By State
First, let’s zoom in on the overall number of pest control job openings by state. This data can give you a sense of where there is the greatest demand for pest control technicians.
The state with the highest number of pest control jobs is Florida, with 876.
Conversely, Alaska has only 5 pest control jobs across the entire state.
The state-by-state numbers track reasonably well with the overall population of the states. This is relatively common sense. The more people live in a particular state, the more pest control customers, the most pest control businesses, and hence, more pest control jobs.
The data also suggests that you may have more success finding a job in a more populated state such as Florida or Texas than in a less populated state such as Alaska.
If you do live in a smaller state, you may find the competition stiffer for pest control technician jobs since there are significantly fewer available. On the flipside, pest control business owners may have a more difficult time filling roles in a state with many open jobs for applicants to choose from.
Average Pest Control Job Listings By Experience Level
Next, let’s get a bit more granular and look at the breakdown of the number of pest control jobs that are entry-level, mid-level, or senior-level.
Again, this data can give you a feel for the pest control industry as a whole.
Depending on the amount of experience you have in the pest control industry, it can help you determine in which state you’re most likely to find a job. It can also give you a sense of the overall pest control marketplace in terms of how much demand there is for entry-, mid-, and senior-level positions.
If you own a pest control business and are hoping to hire new technicians, you can determine whether you want to focus your search on entry- or mid-level applicants that may require some on-the-job training. If there are only a few senior-level jobs posted in your state, you may have a much easier time finding a seasoned veteran who can benefit your team immediately.
Entry-Level Jobs
If you’re just getting rolling in the pest control industry, you’ll want to know how many entry-level jobs are available per state.
- The state with the most entry-level jobs available is Florida, with 721.
- The state with the least entry-level jobs available is Alaska, with 4 listed entry-level jobs.
Mid-Level Jobs
If you’ve been in the pest control industry for a few years, your job search will probably focus on mid-level jobs.
- California has the most mid-level jobs posted, with 203 listings.
- Alaska and South Dakota round out the bottom, each with only one mid-level job posted.
Senior-Level Jobs
Are you a seasoned pro in the pest control industry? Then you’re probably going to be looking for a senior-level job.
- Pennsylvania tops the list with seven senior-level jobs listed.
- Many states don’t have any senior-level jobs listed.
This data suggests several things. First, and most obvious, bigger states have more jobs listed at all levels. While the number of posted jobs at each level may not strictly track with the population, the more populated states almost always have more jobs listed.
This implies that if you’re seeking a job in the pest control industry, you may be wise to focus your search on a state with a higher population.
The data also shows just how few senior-level positions are available, even in the most populated states. If you’re seeking a senior-level job, you’re certainly going to face stiff competition, no matter what state you live in. In some states, you may not even be able to find a senior level job.
The data also suggests that if you own a pest control business, you probably won’t have as much trouble finding mid- and senior-level technicians given the relatively low demand for them.
Average Earnings For Current Open Positions
Next, let’s zoom in and look at the average earnings for current open positions across the entire United States.
This data can give you a sense of what you might earn in a given state. If you own a pest control business, it can help you determine a fair salary for your employees, as well as what you might have to pay if you’re hiring new pest control technicians.
Note that the average earnings encompass all positions, all the way from the lowest roles, such as an Apprentice or temporary/hourly work, to the most senior positions.
The national average hourly rate for all pest control positions is $18.10.
- The state with the highest average hourly rate is Alaska, at $20.74 per hour. This is 14.58% higher than the national average.
- The state with the lowest average hourly rate is Utah, with an average hourly rate of $13.65. This is 24.59% lower than the national average.
Alaska has a very small number of job openings, making it somewhat difficult to determine why it offers the highest overall average rate. It’s possible that it may be tied to the cost of living and/or the difficulty of the job in that particular state. Additionally, because there are so few pest control jobs available in Alaska, the data will be averages will be somewhat skewed.
Utah has an average number of jobs listed, suggesting that the rate of pay isn’t tied to the population, but rather, is most likely tied to the overall cost of living in the state. It’s also possible that the low rate of pay is linked to lower demand for pest control technicians in Utah, although we can’t be firm on that conclusion without further data.
Final Takeaways
The biggest and most obvious takeaway is that the number of job openings (both total and by experience level) tracks relatively closely with the overall population of any given state. Alaska, with its small overall population, has very few pest control jobs available. Florida, on the other hand, with its relatively large population, has many jobs available.
These realities will most likely shape where you search for a job. Simply put, you’re most likely to find a job in the states with larger populations.
If you’re hiring pest control technicians, you can use this data to help guide your strategy. The data can give you a sense of what positions you might have the most success hiring. For example, the low number of senior-level jobs posted suggests that it might be relatively easy for you to find a senior-level employee for your business.
Likewise, you can use your state’s average salary compared to the national average in order to inform the salary you offer.
For instance, if you’re hiring in Utah, the average role pays just 75% of the national average. If you want to attract the best candidates and hire much more quickly, you can set your salary higher than competitors. If you are more interested in keeping costs under control, you could set the salary closer to the state average and hold out until the right candidate comes along.
The bottom line is that the amount you pay your employees most likely needs to be in line with the average cost of living in your state. If it’s not, you’ll have a difficult time finding qualified pest control technicians.
