Commercial Pest Control recruiters serving Washington, D.C..
Washington, D.C. has about 1,630 pest control workers, 10th of the 108 we cover, and still 21% fewer per job than the country - so they are rarely short of offers. BLS counts 207 business locations of pest control companies across the metro. We recruit Commercial Pest Control talent in Washington, D.C. from a standing, credential-verified pipeline. Below: local pay for every role we staff, the state licensing rules that apply and the nearby markets competing for the same people.
Positions we recruit for in Washington, D.C..
BLS counts about 1,630 pest control workers in the Washington, D.C. metro. Relative to the size of the local economy, pest control workers are less concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 0.79). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Pest Control hub.
Commercial Pest Control Technician
Washington, D.C.: 1,630 employed · $48,010 median, 16th-highest of 109 metros
Licensed Pest Control Applicator
Termite / WDI Inspector
Fumigation Technician
Commercial Account Manager
Washington, D.C.: 29,300 employed · $78,110 median, 11th-highest of 111 metros
Pest Control Branch / Route Manager
Washington, D.C.: 2,570 employed · $129,050 median, 9th-highest of 112 metros
Pest Control Service Manager
Washington, D.C.: 112,530 employed · $156,460 median, 3rd-highest of 112 metros
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist
Bird / Wildlife Exclusion Technician
Pest Control Sales / Business Development Rep
Washington, D.C.: 7,740 employed · $74,730 median, 30th-highest of 112 metros
What Commercial Pest Control roles earn in Washington, D.C..
Pest control workers in Washington, D.C. earn a median $48,010, 6% over the $45,250 national figure, and 16th of 109 metros. Pay runs $39,610 at the tenth percentile to $74,120 at the ninetieth.
| Role | Washington, D.C. median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pest Control Technician · Licensed Pest Control Applicator · Termite / WDI InspectorPest Control Workers (37-2021) | $48,010 | $39,610–$74,120 | $45,250 | +6% | 1,630 |
| Commercial Account ManagerSales Representatives of Services (41-3091) | $78,110 | $40,930–$173,470 | $69,990 | +12% | 29,300 |
| Pest Control Branch / Route ManagerTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (11-3071) | $129,050 | $80,840–$205,640 | $107,230 | +20% | 2,570 |
| Pest Control Service ManagerGeneral and Operations Managers (11-1021) | $156,460 | $67,600–$291,420 | $105,770 | +48% | 112,530 |
| Pest Control Sales / Business Development RepSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing (41-4012) | $74,730 | $43,640–$157,050 | $72,080 | +4% | 7,740 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington, D.C. metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide. A metro ranking counts only the metros where BLS publishes that occupation.
How Washington, D.C.'s commercial pest control market has changed since 2018.
The number of pest control companies in Washington, D.C. rose from 186 in 2018 to 207 in 2023, up 11%, behind the 16% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went up 7%, to about 2,220 people. Average annual pay there went from $49,153 to $61,042 (+24%), in step with the 22% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pest control companies: business locations | 186 | 207 | +11% |
| Pest control companies: employment | 2,073 | 2,220 | +7% |
| Pest control companies: average annual pay | $49,153 | $61,042 | +24% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Free Commercial Pest Control hiring resources.
Definitive Guide to Commercial Pest Control · 2026 Commercial Pest Control Salary Guide · 3-Step Interview Guide for Commercial Pest Control
Washington, D.C. runs 21% fewer commercial pest control workers per job than the country as a whole — below the national concentration. Fewer per job means the people you want are already working, and usually for someone who would rather keep them.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pest Control Workers. Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Washington, D.C.'s commercial pest control market compares
Among the 98 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Washington, D.C. ranks 10th for headcount, 13th for median pay and 62nd for concentration for pest control workers.
What this means for hiring:For commercial pest control employers in Washington, D.C., the headline number is misleading. About 1,630 pest control workers work here, one of the larger workforces we cover, but relative to the size of the local economy the trade is thinner than average, so every other employer is drawing on the same people. Expect to recruit people who are already employed, and to make the case for moving.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Washington, D.C. metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Pest Control licensing in District of Columbia.
Each place of business that advertises or performs pest control in the District needs a Pesticide Operator's License, which requires proof of liability insurance and a Certificate of Occupancy. Applicators need DC certification, by exam (offered six times a year) or reciprocity, and must carry their certified applicator photo ID while applying pesticides. The Washington, D.C. metro crosses a state line, so check the rules in the neighboring state too for crews that work on both sides.
Licensing authority: District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), Pesticide Program. Confirm current rules with the agency.
We have not closed a commercial pest control search in Washington, D.C. yet. Here is what we have closed.
These are other trades in the same market. We would rather show you the searches we have actually run in Washington, D.C. than imply a record in this trade that we do not have yet.
- Dispatcher / Service CoordinatorA coordinator used to 80-100 calls a day and 20-30 technicians, placed in twelve days.
- Commercial HVAC TechnicianRooftop units, VAV boxes, air handlers and water source heat pumps - covered in twelve days.
- IT TechnicianEarly-career IT talent with a fresh degree, placed into a technician seat with room to grow.
Nearby markets competing for Washington, D.C. talent.
The closest metro we cover is Baltimore, about 35 miles away, with roughly 870 pest control workers (0.5 times Washington, D.C.'s 1,630). Washington, D.C. pays more than every metro we cover within reach ($48,010 median), which helps when recruiting people in from Harrisburg at $44,910. Washington, D.C. is the largest market for this work in the region, so nearby metros tend to recruit from here rather than the other way round.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | – | 1,630 | $48,010 |
| Baltimore | 36 mi | 870 | $45,780 |
| Lancaster | 88 mi | 90 | $45,290 |
| Richmond | 95 mi | 420 | $45,800 |
| Harrisburg | 96 mi | 190 | $44,910 |
| Philadelphia | 124 mi | 1,350 | $47,260 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Washington, D.C. crews.
Not commercial pest control work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Washington, D.C. in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Inova Health System's Franconia-Springfield Hospital expansion$2.5B (Inova only, not a 3-system aggregate)Through 2028
Multi-system hospital expansion. Hospital-grade mechanical + medical gas in tight supply.
- Reston Station + Tysons + Capital One Hall commercial growth$3B+ (the $3B+ figure belongs to Reston Station specifically, not a combined total across all three)Phased through 2030
Mixed-use commercial expansion in Northern Virginia. Class A office + retail + residential.
- Northern VA data center expansion (Loudoun + Prince William)$10B+ rollingOngoing through 2030
Northern Virginia is the largest US data center market by far. Adjacent to DC MSA boundary but pulls trades from the entire Capital region.
Showing 3 of 6 projects tracked in this metro. The Washington, D.C. market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial pest control, and what kills offers in Washington, D.C..
The 2 credentials that gate the work and the 3 things that most often end a commercial pest control offer are the same in every market, kept in one place: Commercial Pest Control credentials and offer risks, each linked to the body that issues it. What is local is the licensing rule above and the pay further up this page.
Frequently asked - Commercial Pest Control hiring in Washington, D.C..
What do pest control workers earn in Washington, D.C.?
BLS puts the Washington, D.C. median for pest control workers at $48,010 a year, 6% above the $45,250 national median. That ranks 16th of 109 metros with published figures, in the top quarter. Most of the market sits between $39,610 and $74,120, a 1.9x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience.
Is it hard to hire pest control workers in Washington, D.C.?
Yes. Washington, D.C. has 21% fewer pest control workers per job than the country as a whole, roughly 1,630 in the metro, so most of the people worth hiring are already employed. The 207 pest control companies here average about 11 employees per location. With 11% more of those firms than in 2018, more employers are competing for the same crews.
Which commercial pest control roles pay the most in Washington, D.C.?
Of the roles we recruit for, Pest Control Service Manager pays the most in Washington, D.C., a $156,460 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Commercial Pest Control Technician at $48,010, 69% below it. Relative to national pay, Pest Control Service Manager is the strongest-paying role here (48% above).
How many pest control companies operate in Washington, D.C.?
BLS counted 207 pest control companies in Washington, D.C. in 2023, employing about 2,220 people between them. Up from 186 in 2018, an 11% increase against 16% growth nationally. That averages 11 people per location. They pay an average of $61,042, 12% above the $54,678 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Washington, D.C. for pest control workers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Baltimore (36 miles, about 870, $45,780 median), Lancaster (88 miles, about 90, $45,290 median) and Richmond (95 miles, about 420, $45,800 median). Washington, D.C. out-pays Lancaster, an advantage when recruiting from there.
Deep pool. Heavily fished.
Washington, D.C. has 1,630 pest control workers, 10th of the 108 metros we cover, and still 21% fewer per job than the country. The pool is deep and every employer here is fishing it. Let's get to the ones worth moving first.
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