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Pest management worker

Also called fumigator, exterminator, pest control worker

Pest management workers identify, eliminate and repel pests by applying specific chemical solutions, setting traps and other equipment to control pests such as rats, mice and cockroaches. They apply pesticides and clean and remove pests after extermination. Their tasks might include elimination of fungi, moisture or insects. They inform and advise clients, residents and facility owners on after care and preventive methods to keep away pests.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects15 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 6 in 10 train through vocational routes.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Fumigators and other pest and weed controllers · ILO

What you'd do

Fumigators and other pest and weed controllers · ILO
  • Operating and monitoring equipment for spraying pests and weeds
  • Mixing chemicals according to instructions
  • Covering areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions
  • Spraying or releasing chemical solutions or toxic gases and setting traps to kill pests and vermin, such as mice, termites and roaches
  • Lifting, pushing and swinging nozzles, hoses and tubes in order to direct spray over designated areas
  • Filling sprayer tanks with water and chemicals
  • Cleaning and servicing machinery to ensure operating efficiency
Spray pesticidesDecide on infestation treatment typeIdentify infestation sourceReport on pest inspectionsPerform mathematical calculations in pest management+ 3 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Pest Control Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers in the EU
4.07m3.96m3.58m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
910,000 replacing leavers 332,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers15
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of fumigators and other pest and weed controllers, 4 a surplus.
Fumigators and other pest and weed controllers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in crop and livestock production is the usual route.

Highest qualification of food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 11%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 26%
Field that teaches it
Crop and livestock production
Vocational route, EU
6 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.13 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Mixing chemicals according to instructions0.17
Filling sprayer tanks with water and chemicals0.16
Operating and monitoring equipment for spraying pests and weeds0.16
Cleaning and servicing machinery to ensure operating efficiency0.14
Covering areas to specified depths with pesticides, applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet sizes, elevation-to-distance ratios, and obstructions0.14
Lifting, pushing and swinging nozzles, hoses and tubes in order to direct spray over designated areas0.09
Spraying or releasing chemical solutions or toxic gases and setting traps to kill pests and vermin, such as mice, termites and roaches0.07

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for fumigators and other pest and weed controllers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).