An official website of the United States government
Apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72,830 | 2.0 % | $16.84 | $35,020 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.40 | $12.86 | $15.88 | $19.84 | $24.48 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $21,630 | $26,740 | $33,040 | $41,270 | $50,920 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 69,160 | 3.33 | $16.72 | $34,770 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 890 | 0.02 | $18.76 | $39,020 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 530 | 0.02 | $17.25 | $35,890 |
| Facilities Support Services | 330 | 0.22 | $19.09 | $39,720 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 230 | 0.01 | $25.75 | $53,570 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 69,160 | 3.33 | $16.72 | $34,770 |
| Facilities Support Services | 330 | 0.22 | $19.09 | $39,720 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 120 | 0.20 | $19.44 | $40,430 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 890 | 0.02 | $18.76 | $39,020 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 530 | 0.02 | $17.25 | $35,890 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 230 | 0.01 | $25.75 | $53,570 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 90 | (7) | $22.88 | $47,590 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 190 | (7) | $21.15 | $43,990 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 40 | (7) | $20.36 | $42,350 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 120 | 0.20 | $19.44 | $40,430 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 10,530 | 1.28 | 2.47 | $14.93 | $31,050 |
| California | 9,490 | 0.59 | 1.15 | $17.72 | $36,860 |
| Texas | 5,840 | 0.50 | 0.96 | $16.52 | $34,350 |
| Georgia | 4,230 | 1.00 | 1.93 | $16.37 | $34,050 |
| North Carolina | 3,470 | 0.82 | 1.58 | $16.35 | $34,010 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 10,530 | 1.28 | 2.47 | $14.93 | $31,050 |
| South Carolina | 2,070 | 1.04 | 2.01 | $15.48 | $32,200 |
| Hawaii | 660 | 1.04 | 2.00 | $19.56 | $40,690 |
| Alabama | 2,000 | 1.04 | 2.01 | $14.82 | $30,830 |
| Georgia | 4,230 | 1.00 | 1.93 | $16.37 | $34,050 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 30 | 0.05 | 0.09 | $24.34 | $50,630 |
| Massachusetts | 1,220 | 0.35 | 0.68 | $23.19 | $48,230 |
| Washington | 950 | 0.31 | 0.60 | $21.55 | $44,830 |
| Minnesota | 460 | 0.16 | 0.31 | $21.17 | $44,040 |
| Vermont | 70 | 0.23 | 0.45 | $20.72 | $43,100 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,510 | 0.98 | 1.89 | $16.03 | $33,340 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 2,100 | 0.32 | 0.62 | $16.14 | $33,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,820 | 0.43 | 0.83 | $16.20 | $33,690 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,660 | 1.42 | 2.74 | $14.68 | $30,530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,610 | 1.27 | 2.46 | $15.07 | $31,350 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 1,410 | 0.73 | 1.40 | $17.09 | $35,540 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,350 | 0.46 | 0.89 | $17.14 | $35,640 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,260 | 0.92 | 1.78 | $14.12 | $29,370 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 1,180 | 0.47 | 0.91 | $19.42 | $40,390 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 1,160 | 0.84 | 1.62 | $17.36 | $36,110 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Gorda, FL | 210 | 4.78 | 9.22 | $14.23 | $29,600 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 170 | 2.37 | 4.56 | $15.93 | $33,140 |
| Ocala, FL | 230 | 2.36 | 4.55 | $14.43 | $30,020 |
| The Villages, FL | 60 | 2.26 | 4.36 | $12.44 | $25,870 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 300 | 2.22 | 4.28 | $16.89 | $35,130 |
| Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead, MA NECTA Division | 90 | 2.15 | 4.15 | $23.94 | $49,800 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 590 | 2.10 | 4.05 | $14.47 | $30,100 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 60 | 2.02 | 3.89 | (8) | (8) |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 300 | 1.99 | 3.84 | $14.84 | $30,860 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 390 | 1.96 | 3.78 | $14.20 | $29,530 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA-CT | 140 | 0.43 | 0.83 | $29.48 | $61,320 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 90 | 0.39 | 0.75 | $25.03 | $52,070 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 90 | 0.24 | 0.47 | $25.02 | $52,040 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 270 | 0.25 | 0.49 | $24.77 | $51,530 |
| Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead, MA NECTA Division | 90 | 2.15 | 4.15 | $23.94 | $49,800 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 550 | 0.53 | 1.01 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 550 | 0.30 | 0.59 | $23.10 | $48,050 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 630 | 0.47 | 0.90 | $23.00 | $47,830 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 130 | 0.69 | 1.33 | $22.61 | $47,030 |
| Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $22.48 | $46,770 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 200 | 0.81 | 1.56 | $16.43 | $34,180 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.30 | 2.51 | $15.32 | $31,870 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.03 | 1.99 | $15.31 | $31,840 |
| North Texas nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 0.58 | 1.13 | $16.42 | $34,150 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.07 | 2.06 | $13.31 | $27,680 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 2.41 | 4.65 | $13.16 | $27,370 |
| Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.90 | 3.66 | $19.37 | $40,300 |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 1.44 | 2.78 | $16.28 | $33,870 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 1.33 | 2.57 | $12.93 | $26,890 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.30 | 2.51 | $15.32 | $31,870 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.29 | 0.56 | $22.85 | $47,530 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.38 | 0.74 | $21.63 | $45,000 |
| West Texas nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.20 | 0.38 | $21.12 | $43,920 |
| Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.90 | 3.66 | $19.37 | $40,300 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.32 | 0.63 | $18.21 | $37,870 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017