Pest Control Worker

Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Commercial Pest Control Technician (Commercial Pest Control Tech); Exterminator; Pest Control Applicator; Pest Control Chemical Technician (Pest Control Chemical Tech); Pest Control Operator; Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech); Pest Technician (Pest Tech); Residential Pest Control Technician (Residential Pest Control Tech); Route Technician (Route Tech); Termite Technician (Termite Tech)

Tasks

• Record work activities performed.
• Clean work site after completion of job.
• Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.
• Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
• Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
• Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
• Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
• Direct, or assist other workers in, treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.
• Study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested area and determine treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Law and Government
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Reading Comprehension

Abilities

• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Inductive Reasoning
• Far Vision
• Written Comprehension
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Trunk Strength
• Extent Flexibility
• Visual Color Discrimination