How much do pest control contractors earn? Wages, costs and taxes
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 occupational wage table lists a mean annual wage of USD46,400 and a median hourly wage of USD21.75 for pest control workers. These are US employee wages, not company revenue, and cannot be used directly as wage standards for other regions.
Location, experience and business size all affect income. Earnings may differ greatly between new technicians and experienced professionals running their own businesses. Specialized services in areas with greater demand may command higher rates. In cities with higher living costs, such as San Francisco and Washington, DC, service demand and operating costs also need to be considered together.
Providing a service involves material, trapping equipment, protective supplies, travel and labor costs. If a contract includes several visits, inspection and follow-up costs also need to be included to understand earnings from the whole contract.
Use the service price calculator to estimate visit costs, then agree on a price based on the contract scope and number of services. Independent contractors and small-business owners also need to consider applicable self-employment tax, federal income tax and state and local taxes according to location, business arrangements and deductible business expenses, then calculate business earnings from actual expenses and revenue.
Wage source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2025 occupational wage table.