# Pest Control Workers

> Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 37-2021.00
- **Summary:** Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.

## Aliases

- Exterminator
- Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech)
- Pest Technician
- Residential Pest Control Technician
- Certified Pest Control Technician
- Commercial Pest Control Technician
- Pest Control Applicator
- Pest Control Chemical Technician
- Pest Control Operator
- Termite Technician
- Bed Bug Exterminator
- Chemical Applicator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Record work activities performed. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients. | Core | 4.A.4.b.6.b |
| Post warning signs and lock building doors to secure area to be fumigated. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Clean work site after completion of job. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.b |
| Study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested area and determine treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Set mechanical traps, or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Cut or bore openings in building or surrounding concrete, access infested areas, insert nozzle, and inject pesticide to impregnate ground. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Recommend products or services to customers. | 4.A.4.b.6.b |
| Estimate maintenance service requirements or costs. | 4.A.1.b.3.b |
| Document work hours or activities. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Inspect buildings or grounds to determine condition. | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Clean facilities or sites. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Supervise maintenance workers. | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites. | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Block physical access to restricted areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Treat facilities to eliminate pests. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |
| Evaluate reports or designs to determine work needs. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Near Vision | ability | 4 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.82 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.75 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.75 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.75 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.62 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.62 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.62 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.62 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.5 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.5 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.25 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.25 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Persuasion | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Negotiation | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.11 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.08 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Visualization | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Time Sharing | ability | 3 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Database Software | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Accounting Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Intuit QuickBooks | Accounting software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Document management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Database software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| Marathon Data Systems PestPac | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Report writing software | Word processing software | no | no |
| Supply inventory software | Inventory management software | no | no |
| Work scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | no | no |
| YouTube | Video creation and editing software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 4.95 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.7 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 4.67 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.64 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.54 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.48 |
| Contact With Others | 4.38 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.38 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.35 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.19 |
| Time Pressure | 4.14 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.13 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.11 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.06 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.97 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.85 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.72 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.62 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.6 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.52 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.49 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.42 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.27 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.21 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.2 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.19 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.18 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.17 |
| Level of Competition | 3.04 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.99 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 2.93 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.89 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.88 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.88 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.86 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 2.84 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.72 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.67 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.62 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 90.24 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.79 |
| Some College Courses | 0.59 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.38 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.85 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.71 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.17 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 4.05 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.94 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 2.21 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.11 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.06 |
| Nature/Outdoors | specific_interest_area | 1.9 |
| Life Science | specific_interest_area | 1.77 |
| Agriculture | specific_interest_area | 1.76 |
| Sales | specific_interest_area | 1.7 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 1.67 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 1.56 |
| Protective Service | specific_interest_area | 1.55 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 37-3012.00 | role-37-3012-00 | Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation | Primary-Short |
| 47-4041.00 | role-47-4041-00 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | Primary-Short |
| 47-4071.00 | role-47-4071-00 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | Primary-Short |
| 37-3011.00 | role-37-3011-00 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | Primary-Short |
| 51-8031.00 | role-51-8031-00 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | Primary-Short |
| 37-1012.00 | role-37-1012-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | Primary-Long |
| 45-1011.00 | role-45-1011-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | Primary-Long |
| 19-4012.00 | role-19-4012-00 | Agricultural Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 45-2092.00 | role-45-2092-00 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | Primary-Long |
| 45-2011.00 | role-45-2011-00 | Agricultural Inspectors | Primary-Long |
| 19-4042.00 | role-19-4042-00 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | Supplemental |
| 17-3025.00 | role-17-3025-00 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Agriculture | agriculture |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 44730
- **Mean Wage:** 45800
- **Pct10Wage:** 32460
- **Pct25Wage:** 37060
- **Pct75Wage:** 49300
- **Pct90Wage:** 61410
- **Employment:** 96110
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 92430 | 44660 | 16.42 |
| 561710 | 561710 | Exterminating and Pest Control Services | National industry | 90350 | 44660 | 978.9 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 260 | 49520 | 0.03 |
| 561730 | 561730 | Landscaping Services | National industry | 200 | 47320 | 0.35 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 160 | 56990 | 0.02 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 150 | 42720 | 0.57 |
| 53 | 53 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | Sector | 110 | 37000 | 0.07 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 110 | 36310 | 0.07 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 100 | 44630 | 0.03 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 90 | 48530 |  |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 40 | 46490 |  |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 40 | 51440 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 561710 | 561710 | Exterminating and Pest Control Services | National industry | 90350 | 978.9 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 92430 | 16.42 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 150 | 0.57 |
| 561730 | 561730 | Landscaping Services | National industry | 200 | 0.35 |
| 53 | 53 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | Sector | 110 | 0.07 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 110 | 0.07 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 100 | 0.03 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 260 | 0.03 |
- **Count:** 14

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.66 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.7255374 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.494887 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.7243282 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 33
- **Percentile:** 31
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 28 | felten_aioe |
| 34 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 36 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.7255374 | 28 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.3333333333333333 | 34 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.11516054696666098 | 36 | Moderate | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.66
- **Percentile:** 56
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.16666666666666666
- **Beta:** 0.25
- **Gamma:** 0.3333333333333333

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients. | 0.0020541557625231607 | 4.3 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 4.9
- **Growth Percentile:** 73
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 13.4
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 69
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 102.4
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 107.5

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 1
- **Task Count:** 2
- **Total Sample:** 67
- **Autonomy Median:** 3
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 45.83

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 45.83 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 54.17 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients. | 0.004800600075009376 | directive | 3 | 48 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients. | 93.75 | 48 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Do this for me: recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 13
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 12
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** f3e839499265bc01