Pest Control Technician Salaries By State And City 2024

The costs that make up the federal government's Consumer Price Index generally have stabilized after their spikes in 2022. 

But the costs of compensating pest control technicians across the United States appear to still be rising. 

The national average for the median salary of a pest control technician with up to two years of experience stands at $48,776, according to research for FieldRoutes conducted by Payscale. Salaries for technicians in the 50th percentile (where half of all workers make less, and half make more) range from a high of $53,900 in California to $45,600 in West Virginia. 

While the burden of hiring, compensating, and retaining a strong workforce falls on the employer, the news is good for the employees on the front lines of helping protect people and residential and commercial properties from pests. And the news can be even better for technicians who stick with pest control as a career and add to their skill sets and education. 

"Take every class you possibly can. Learn everything you can. That is the most key part,” says Lisa Botts, a technician-turned-owner of Peacock Pest Prevention in Tomball, TX. “Understand your state's rules and regulations around getting your licenses. 

“Every time you get a new license, they have to pay you a little bit more,” she added.

In addition, total compensation –which includes cash compensation such as medical benefits and vacation – ranges from an additional $2,200 in West Virginia to $2,800 in California for pest control technicians earning the median salary. The total compensation across the nation ranges from a rise of 4.82% (West Virginia) to 5.26% (Pennsylvania; 18th-best in median salary) above base pay across the nation.  

Total cash compensation includes base salary, commissions, tips, bonuses and profit sharing. According to Payscale, the figure does not include retirement plan contributions from employers, health insurance, company car privileges, travel allowances, or other non-cash benefits. 

The Payscale findings for base salaries are also higher than the most recent information available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which found a national median salary for pest control workers, regardless of experience, averaging $41,724 in May 2023. The U.S. government research found a state high of $49,220 for New Hampshire and a low of $33,510 for New Mexico.

Another research company, SmartAsset, recently found that pest control workers’ median salaries, regardless of experience, scored the ninth-largest gain, 13.5% to $43,470, from 2022 to 2023 among 487 occupations, according to PCTOnline.com. 

By comparison, a survey conducted for the National Pest Management Association in 2021, from Readex Research, showed an annual salary of $39,000 for technicians who had been in the business five years or less. That research also found additional cash compensation for technicians with the same experience at $2,000.

A closer look at 2024 research insights provided to FieldRoutes by Payscale: 

States, median salary

Top five

California, $53,900

New Jersey, $53,000

Washington, $52,900

Massachusetts, $52,400

New York, $52,000

Bottom five 

South Dakota, $46,100

Arkansas, $46,000

Wyoming, $46,000

Mississippi, $45,600

West Virginia, $45,600

Metropolitan areas, median salary

Top five

San Francisco, CA, $58,700

New York, NY, $55,400

Newark, NJ, $54,800

Seattle, WA, $54,100

Bridgeport, CT, $53,800

Bottom five 

Charleston, WV, $43,800

Jackson, MS, $45,500

Sioux Falls, SD, $45,600

Wichita, KS, $45,700

Little Rock, AR, $45,800

States, 90th percentile, base salary

Top five

California, $68,800

New Jersey, $67,600

Washington, $67,500

Massachusetts, $66,900

New York, $66,300

Bottom five 

West Virginia, $58,000

Mississippi, $58,200

Arkansas, $58,600

Wyoming, $58,700

South Dakota, $58,800

States, 10th percentile, base salary

Top five

California, $41,100

New Jersey, $40,500

Washington, $40,400

Massachusetts, $40,000

New York, $39,700

Bottom five 

West Virginia, $34,700

Mississippi, $34,800

Arkansas, $35,100

Wyoming, $35,100

South Dakota, $35,100

States, 10th percentile to 90th percentile difference, base salary

Largest gaps

California, $27,700

New Jersey, $27,100

Washington, $27,100

Massachusetts, $26,900

New York, $26,600

Smallest gaps

West Virginia, $23,300

Mississippi, $23,400

Arkansas, $23,500

Wyoming, $23,600

South Dakota, $23,700

States, total compensation, median salary

Top five 

California, $56,700

Washington, $55,600

New Jersey, $55,600

Massachusetts, $55,100

New York, $54,600

Bottom five 

West Virginia, $47,800

Mississippi, $47,900

Wyoming, $48,300

Arkansas, $48,300

South Dakota, $48,400

Metropolitan areas, total compensation, median salary

Top five 

San Francisco, CA, $61,700

New York, NY, $58,200

Newark, NJ, $57,500

Seattle, WA, $56,800

Bridgeport, CT, $56,500

Bottom five 

Charleston, WV, $46,000

Jackson, MS, $47,700

Sioux Falls, SD, $47,900

Wichita, KS, $48,000

Little Rock, AR, $48,000

Birmingham, AL, $48,000

About Payscale

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How FieldRoutes Can Pay Off For You

Base salaries, commissions, incentives, and cost-of-living calculations are all important when it comes to compensating your pest control technicians.

FieldRoutes also assists businesses in making life easier for your technicians. Whether it's optimized routing that reduces a technician's windshield time or Tech Tipping that can put extra money in their pockets, FieldRoutes wants your employees to be happy and productive.

And there are other ways we are invested in your business’ success. FieldRoutes is a Gold Suppliers Club member of the National Pest Management Association’s Workforce Development Program, which promotes careers in professional pest control. The program offers job postings to NPMA members and an online toolkit of resources, including sample job descriptions, customizable recruitment brochures, and more to help pest control companies attract and retain talented employees.

Schedule a demo to see how FieldRoutes can help your technicians and empower your business' growth so you achieve your ultimate success.