Prevailing Wage for Pest Control Workers
Prevailing wages for Pest Control Workers (SOC 37-2021) are set by the DOL using regional wage surveys, so the floor a Certified Pest Control Technician must be paid in Seattle differs substantially from what applies in San Juan. Whether the sponsoring employer titles the role Commercial Pest Control Technician or Pest Control Operator, the same DOL framework applies across four experience levels.
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Level 1 covers entry-level workers with limited pest control experience, typically under one year on the job. Duties are routine and closely supervised, with limited independent judgment expected. Employers filing at this level should document that the role involves basic application tasks under direct oversight.
Level 2 applies to qualified technicians with moderate experience who handle a range of pest control applications with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Pest Control Workers, reflecting the standard journey-level position at most residential and commercial pest control companies.
Level 3 covers experienced technicians who work with significant autonomy, handle complex infestations, and may troubleshoot atypical situations without direct supervision. Workers at this level often hold specialized state certifications and manage recurring commercial accounts requiring a broader technical knowledge base.
Level 4 designates fully competent senior workers who lead crews, train junior technicians, or oversee multi-site service routes. These professionals typically hold multiple state applicator licenses and may carry responsibility for quality control, regulatory compliance, or branch-level technical standards.
Prevailing Wage for Pest Control Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Pest Control Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for state license tier mismatches
Pest control roles require state-issued applicator licenses that often correspond to experience tiers. If your offer title says Pest Control Applicator but the role involves unsupervised commercial fumigation, the DOL filing level should reflect that scope, not the entry-level title.
Flag low-wage metros before negotiating
The prevailing wage floor in Guam and Puerto Rico runs far below the national median for this occupation. If your sponsoring employer has service territories in both high-cost and low-cost regions, confirm which worksite location appears on the LCA, since that address sets the applicable wage floor.
Check which employers have sponsored before
Large national pest control chains have a longer H-1B sponsorship history than regional operators. Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer for Pest Control Workers roles, so you can see which companies have actually filed for this occupation rather than guessing from job postings.
Exclude signing bonuses from wage floor math
DOL prevailing wage compliance for pest control positions is calculated on the regular rate of pay, not one-time signing bonuses. An offer that clears the floor only when a signing bonus is included may not meet the LCA wage obligation for the full certification period.
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Find Jobs for Pest Control WorkersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 37-2021.00 alongside Pest Control Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
Certified Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
Certified Pest Control Technician positions fall under SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Commercial Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
Commercial Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Commercial Pest Control Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Exterminator Prevailing Wage
Exterminator Prevailing Wage
Exterminator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pest Control Applicator Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Applicator Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Applicator positions fall under SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pest Control Chemical Technician Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Chemical Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pest Control Chemical Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pest Control Operator Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Operator Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech) Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech) Prevailing Wage
Pest Control Technician (Pest Control Tech) positions fall under SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pest Technician Prevailing Wage
Pest Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pest Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Residential Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
Residential Pest Control Technician Prevailing Wage
Residential Pest Control Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Termite Technician Prevailing Wage
Termite Technician Prevailing Wage
Termite Technician positions fall under SOC 37-2021.00 (Pest Control Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Pest Control Workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 37-2021, OFLC derives four wage levels from that regional data. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination through OFLC before certifying a Labor Condition Application for any sponsored position in this occupation.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified and working independently on standard tasks, Level 3 is experienced with complex assignments and minimal oversight, and Level 4 is fully competent with supervisory or training responsibilities. Match your level to the actual duties and independence described in the job offer, not just the title. The sponsoring employer selects the level when filing the LCA, so review the posted or requested level carefully.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same pest control role vary so much by city?
OFLC assigns wages by worksite location using regional OES survey data, which captures local labor market conditions. A Dense urban market like New York or Seattle produces higher survey wages than a rural or low-cost territory. The LCA rule requires the employer to list the actual worksite address, and the floor for that specific metropolitan statistical area applies. Moving between service territories without updating the LCA can create compliance problems.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored pest control position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. USCIS will deny an H-1B petition supported by a deficient LCA. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC will not certify the application. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or refile at the correct level before sponsorship can proceed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for Pest Control Workers?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 37-2021 wages by metropolitan area. Select the area corresponding to your actual worksite, then review all four wage levels. For a broader view of which employers have sponsored pest control roles and in which locations, Migrate Mate lists vetted sponsoring employers with historical sponsorship counts, helping you identify companies actively filing for this occupation before you apply.
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