Hello everyone,

I have an opportunity to get a job in pest control in the UP of Michigan and am just wondering how everyone that works in the industry likes it? What would be your biggest drawbacks and positives to the job. If I start, I would be mostly doing sprays. Thank you members of Tman!

Not sure if you’re working for a big name company or a mom and pop shop, but I imagine you wouldn’t make more than $14 -$18 per hour. Unless your living situation is paid for it wouldn’t be enough for me to do it, but everyone’s different.

The UP is beautiful, fishing hiking camping etc you got that going for you.

There’s lots of responsibility with this job. You’re applying poison. You have to keep yourself and your customers safe. They’ll ask you to spray things like their countertops without thinking about it. If this job sounds appealing, get in and get licensed. Collection as many of them as your employer will pay for. You may start out low, but you can quickly earn more getting licensed. Make yourself more valuable so they can pay you more.

Wear all PPE.

It’s a smaller company, starting off at $36,000 a year plus commission which is typically $10,000-$20,000 depending on how many jobs I do. It seems like a good starting pay, especially in the UP.

Thank you for the information EateByLimestone, I will definitely be wearing all PPE. Not worth the risk because I care about my family and my own health. I will be getting I believe 3 licenses my first year.

Sounds good!

I recommend getting a pair of polarized safety glasses. You’re going to be sticking your head into lots of bushes and it’s nice to not have to worry about your eyes. You’ll be amazed how many droplets they’ll stop from hitting your eyes.

Regular glasses will do the same, but if you choose safety glasses, you’ll always have them on your head when you do something you should be wearing safety glasses for. There’ll be no reason not to wear the safety glasses.

A hat with a brim that goes all the way around will protect you a bit better from sun and droplets too.