The 2025 Exterminator Crisis: When Pest Problems Meet an Unprecedented Labor Shortage
The pest control industry is facing its most challenging year yet. A shortage of trained pest control technicians and rising wages are putting pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, with 22.6% of pest control businesses identifying employee retention as a significant challenge. This staffing crisis is creating longer wait times for consumers who desperately need pest control services, fundamentally changing how homeowners and businesses must approach pest management in 2025.
The Perfect Storm: Why 2025 Has Become the Tipping Point
The exterminator shortage didn’t happen overnight. Mounting labor shortages are by far the biggest workforce challenge of today and the coming decade, with an aging and experienced workforce that is retiring and not being replaced fast enough. The result was an even smaller pool of potential technicians to hire from, leading to fierce competition between pest control companies to attract and retain technicians.
About 13,400 openings for pest control workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade, with many of those openings expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. However, this replacement rate isn’t keeping pace with demand, creating a critical gap in service availability.
The pandemic exacerbated these challenges significantly. Many PCOs have encountered unique staffing challenges in the past couple of years as a result of different states taking different approaches to managing the pandemic, with most states recognizing pest control as an essential industry but many instituting restrictions on issuing new licenses to technicians.
How Response Times Are Being Affected
The labor shortage is creating a domino effect that directly impacts consumers. When you search for an exterminator near me, you’re likely to encounter longer wait times than ever before. What used to be same-day or next-day service has stretched to weeks in many areas, particularly during peak pest seasons.
A shortage of trained pest control technicians and rising wages are putting pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, with companies needing to attract and retain skilled staff while staying profitable. This pressure often translates into reduced service capacity and extended scheduling delays.
The situation is particularly challenging because pest control services are always in demand, offering great career stability as this industry also offers great career stability, yet the workforce isn’t growing fast enough to meet this consistent demand.
Regional Variations and Hotspots
The crisis isn’t uniform across the country. Several states in America are facing a worker shortage crisis with too many open jobs without people to fill them, with some states having just 39 workers for every 100 open jobs. Urban areas with higher costs of living are experiencing particularly acute shortages, as workforce housing is the biggest issue now, with most major cities in America dealing with this issue because wages have not kept up with inflation.
What Consumers Can Do to Navigate the Crisis
Plan Ahead and Act Early: Don’t wait for a full-blown infestation to seek help. Schedule preventive treatments during off-peak seasons when technicians are more available.
Be Flexible with Scheduling: Companies are struggling with capacity, so being flexible with appointment times can help you get service sooner. Consider accepting early morning or late afternoon appointments that others might decline.
Invest in Prevention: With response times extended, prevention becomes more critical than ever. Seal entry points, eliminate moisture sources, and maintain clean environments to reduce the likelihood of needing emergency pest control services.
Build Relationships with Local Companies: Establish ongoing relationships with pest control providers rather than calling only when problems arise. Regular customers often receive priority scheduling during busy periods.
Consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Integrated Pest Management offers an environmentally sensitive approach by combining knowledge of pest life cycles with ecosystem interactions to minimize hazards, and is increasingly popular due to its sustainable and eco-friendly approach. This comprehensive approach can reduce the frequency of professional treatments needed.
Industry Response and Innovation
The pest control industry isn’t sitting idle. Automation can support employee retention by reducing repetitive tasks and enhancing job satisfaction, thereby helping companies address labor shortages and retain skilled staff, with providers offering end-to-end, automated platforms that cover service, marketing, and payment workflows.
Companies are also investing heavily in employee development. In a recent survey of pest professionals, employee development and recruiting new employees were listed as top goals by 40% of respondents, with pest control businesses knowing that employee recruitment and development are stumbling blocks.
Looking Forward: Signs of Hope
Despite current challenges, there are positive indicators for the future. Employment of pest control workers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with pest control jobs expected to grow about 5% over the next decade. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pest control workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all other trade and skilled work occupations, with exterminator jobs even making the top 10 of the 2025 U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Maintenance and Repair Jobs.
The industry is also working to improve compensation and working conditions. Entry-level pest control techs and exterminators average about $36,000 annually, but after a few years, it’s common to earn $40,000–$50,000, with senior techs and commercial specialists earning $60,000 or more.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 exterminator crisis is real and impacting response times nationwide. However, by understanding the situation and adapting your approach to pest management, you can still protect your property effectively. Focus on prevention, maintain flexibility in scheduling, and build relationships with local providers. While the current shortage presents challenges, industry growth projections and ongoing innovations suggest that relief is on the horizon for both consumers and pest control professionals alike.
The key is staying proactive rather than reactive. In today’s challenging environment, the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has never been more relevant to pest control management.