The nature of pest control work limits the number of pest control careers available to those who enjoy working in the field, doing work that is occasionally dirty, sometimes precise, and whose success isn’t always obvious. Agricultural pest control, aquatic pest control, pest control in residential structures and food handling establishments, and many other fields offer career opportunities. Most pest control operators work from ground-based service vehicles, but some use planes to spray pesticides on crops. Research and development, working for a pest control company or a manufacturer of pest control chemicals or devices are all options for pest control careers of a different nature.
Pest control jobs can be found in pest control companies, pest control equipment and supply companies, the government, and companies whose products aren’t related to pest control but require it on a regular basis, such as agricultural and food processing businesses. Almost all pest control jobs necessitate certification, though some states will allow a technician to work without one if supervised by a certified applicator. Except for those working in pest control supplier R&D, most operators’ daily tasks include mixing the chemicals that will be used in the day’s jobs, loading them into spraying equipment, traveling to various job sites, and actually applying the pesticide. They return to the shop after the last job of the day is completed, clean the equipment, and complete paperwork.
The typical “climbing the ladder” approach to advancement in any corporate environment characterizes pest control careers in the chains; that is, workers advance based on their qualifications, skills, and leadership ability. Pest control jobs in these corporate environments may require as much time in the office or in sales meetings with potential clients as time spent in the field. Pest control jobs outside of the chains, on the other hand, are almost entirely focused on pest control and the supervision of other pest control applicators. A pest control applicator working for a food processing company, for example, is unlikely to be promoted outside of that department, allowing him or her to focus solely on pest control. He’ll still be expected to keep up with developments in the field, and he’ll be required to recertify on a regular basis, just like his chain counterparts. Employers will, in most cases, cover all costs associated with recertification.
Sole proprietors and employees of small businesses may be assigned to multiple tasks in order to handle the many responsibilities that come with running a successful pest control business. Compliance with recordkeeping requirements, bookkeeping, and sales are examples of responsibilities that would be handled by other departments in a corporate setting. One of the benefits of small businesses is that, by providing a level of personal service that larger corporations can’t match, they’ll always be able to fill a niche of clients and homeowners who prefer or require it.