U.S. Structural Pest Control Market Surpasses $9.6 Billion, Specialty Consultants Reports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As a result of continued consolidation and attrition, the United States structural pest control industry is now comprised of slightly more than 18,800 pest control firms. In 2020, these firms generated an estimated $9.627 billion in total service revenue, a 2.9% increase from the $9.359 billion measured in 2019, according to the latest report "A Strategic Analysis of the U.S. Structural Pest Control Industry from Specialty Consultants."

“Achieving nearly 3% revenue growth when total U.S. GDP declined -3.5% in 2020 is remarkable and it demonstrates the resilience of the professional pest control industry and its importance as an essential service,” said Rich Kalik, partner Specialty Consultants.  

Residential service revenue grew by high single digits this past year. “Professional pest services to control mosquitos and ticks both grew by well more than 20% along with strong double-digit growth in services to control occasional invaders or exterior perimeter pests, as homeowners hunkered down as a defense against the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Kalik. 

Recurring revenue accounted for 84.7% of the residential pest control service revenue this past year. Commercial service revenue declined by low single digits. Kalik said, “the decline in commercial services revenue was not as bad as we first feared. Clearly, hospitality industries like restaurants and hotels suffered from closures and fear of travel, but that impact appears to have been offset somewhat by expanded services to grocery stores, food and beverage manufacturing, hospitals, and nursing homes.” 

The termite market segment benefited from a robust housing market delivering solid growth in the number of both pre-construction and post-construction jobs completed. This past year the number of post-construction termite treatments completed increased by high single digits. The growth in the number of termite jobs completed was complimented by a meaningful improvement in the average charge per job.