Pest control means dealing with the kinds of animals many of us try our best to avoid. But catching rats and battling cockroaches turns out to be very satisfying work.
My research reveals that this surprising level of job satisfaction comes from the variety, challenge and connection pest controllers experience. They also told me their work had a positive effect on people’s lives.
I discovered this after spending the last few years immersed in the world of professional pest control. I’ve attended trade shows, read industry magazines, interviewed pest controllers and accompanied them on their call outs.
One thing that stood out was the range of pests involved, and the different places in which they appear. Both provide opportunities for pest controllers to engage in problem solving and detective work.
Most pest controllers are generalists who will deal with a wide range of wildlife, from rats and mice to wasps, bedbugs and moths. And every infestation needs a nuanced understanding of animal behaviour.
I was told that pest control work, particularly in people’s homes, requires changing tactics and adaptability. For example, some animals learn to avoid traps or develop resistance to certain chemicals. The unpredictability prevents the work from becoming monotonous and routine.
As one pest controller explained: “There’s no such thing as a [typical] job for a rat or a mouse. They’re always different. Different homes, different scenarios, different entry points. Different motivations, different food sources.”
Another said: “Every day is different [and] they’re all interesting. They all have their moments. Every job is bespoke.”
Pest controllers also tend to experience a relatively large amount of freedom and autonomy over how and when they work, both as sole contractors and as employees of larger companies. Many were also interested in understanding the animals’ biology, habitats and behaviour, and enjoyed engaging with the natural world.
Many expressed a fascination and curiosity towards the species they dealt with, with some highlighting a favourite. And despite the spectre of animal death, I noticed a wide appreciation of nature within the industry.
It’s not all perks, though.
Pest control often means working in unpleasant environments like drains or loft spaces filled with bird excrement. There are also ethical issues, with some pest controllers privately expressing guilt or discomfort when killing certain species.
But generally, pest controllers were compassionate, often choosing methods that, although deadly, would minimise suffering for the creatures involved.
And despite pest control being an important part of public health, the job is often held in low social esteem, with little appreciation for the skills and knowledge the work involves.
As one of my interviewees told me: “You’re seen as a kind of neanderthal, or a knuckle dragger that hits small furry animals with sticks.”
I heard of customers asking technicians to park away from the home they were visiting, to enter via a backdoor, or to use vans without logos, to avoid the public embarrassment of calling in pest control. Some workers experienced open disdain, with customers refusing use of their bathrooms or making derisory comments about their work.
One interviewee from a family business described how his adult son had been checking bait boxes under a sink in a school staff room and heard a teacher commenting: “Cor, imagine, doing that all your life.”
The rat race
And despite the welcome autonomy, a lot of pest control involves working alone, which can lead to isolation and mental health difficulties. However, this was often mitigated by strong friendships across the industry (despite many small business owners technically being in direct competition with each other), and the sense of meaningful social benefit their work provided, particularly when dealing with residential customers.
As one pest controller explained: “I find it so, so rewarding, seeing people going from [so distressed to being] so happy and so grateful.”
Another added: “I love getting to know my customers, having that banter and being able to solve people’s problems and have them put that element of trust in me.”
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Some pest controllers also prioritised compassion over profit, informally providing discounts or additional visits for pensioners or poorer customers, enabling them to perform work that was meaningful and rewarding.
But while the industry is very keen to welcome new recruits, pest control is not for everyone. Personally, I would get far too attached to my unintended rodent housemates to even require pest control in the first place. And pest management does raise tricky questions about animal welfare, and the environmental impact of chemicals.
But my research with pest controllers gives an indication of some of the key qualities that make work enjoyable and meaningful.
These include variety, autonomy, connection to others, and the capacity to perform socially beneficial work. And if you can find all of those things in pest control, it looks like the future will be full of opportunity.
