Exterminating and Pest Control Services Revenue Benchmarks
The average exterminating and pest control services business in the United States generates $869K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 13,498 exterminating and pest control services businesses in the U.S., employing 129,676 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $55K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Exterminating and Pest Control Business Actually Do?
Businesses that inspect for and treat pest infestations — insects, rodents, termites, wildlife. Modern shops sell recurring quarterly service contracts alongside one-time treatments.
Who buys: Homeowners (recurring plans), commercial property managers, restaurants and food-service (compliance requirement), pest emergencies.
Average Revenue
$869K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$90K
per year
Total Businesses
13,498
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$70K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$55K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.1
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Exterminating and Pest Control Services Charge?
Pest control businesses charge for initial treatment plus recurring quarterly or monthly service.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Initial treatment (general pest) | $150–350 |
Quarterly recurring service | $100–200 per visit |
Monthly recurring service | $40–75/month |
Termite treatment | $1,200–3,500 |
Bed bug treatment | $300–1,500 per room |
Wildlife removal | $250–800 per animal |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete exterminating and pest control business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a exterminating and pest control services business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the exterminating and pest control services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $64K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $478K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $48K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $32K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $177K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $70K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
14.45%
openings/year
Closure Rate
12.75%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+2.52%
annual
Businesses Closed
19,840
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Exterminating and Pest Control Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
26 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a exterminating and pest control services business do?
- Businesses that inspect for and treat pest infestations — insects, rodents, termites, wildlife. Modern shops sell recurring quarterly service contracts alongside one-time treatments. Homeowners (recurring plans), commercial property managers, restaurants and food-service (compliance requirement), pest emergencies.
- How much do exterminating and pest control services charge?
- Pest control businesses charge for initial treatment plus recurring quarterly or monthly service. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average exterminating and pest control services make per year?
- The average exterminating and pest control services business generates $869K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $70K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many exterminating and pest control services businesses are there in the US?
- There are 13,498 exterminating and pest control services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 129,676 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a exterminating and pest control services business?
- Startup costs for a exterminating and pest control services business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the exterminating and pest control services industry?
- The average employee in the exterminating and pest control services industry earns $55K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The exterminating and pest control services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 2.5% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (14.4% entry vs 12.7% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 51% of exterminating and pest control services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 19,840 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the exterminating and pest control services industry earns $54,678/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 17,341 establishments employing 147,231 people, the typical business has about 8 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The exterminating and pest control services industry has grown 53% since 2000 (from 115,655 to 177,110 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Exterminating and Pest Control Services revenue with other industries: