What’s it Like To Be a Termite Technician?

Attracting quality new hires to be pest management technicians has never been easy. Attracting people to perform termite work can be even harder.

It remains challenging work. In fact, pest management professionals (PMPs) said being a termite technician today was somewhat demanding (84%), even if some only rarely get physically or mentally burned out (49%).

That data comes from the 2026 PCT State of the Termite Control Market survey (in this month’s issue, see pages 27-34). Sponsored by BASF, the survey was conducted Nov. 14 to Dec. 8, 2025, by Readex Research, an independent market research company.

Pied Piper Pest Control, Montoursville, Pa., provides conventional soil treatments and it is hard work, said third- generation co-owner John Burgess. “You’re digging trenches,” he said. “You have to dig a 6-inch trench all the way around the house so that’s cumbersome in itself.”

But he organizes these jobs to increase efficiency and minimize the toll on employees. “I generally bring three guys to a termite job; two trucks, three guys. It just makes things go seamlessly with the mixing of material and having one guy on the gun injecting it into the soil, one guy drilling holes and patching.”

For Burgess, the hard work translates to providing quality service. “We provide the same quality of service that we have since my grandfather and my dad. They were always big believers in quality over quantity, and that has been instilled in me since I was a kid.”

NEW TECHNOLOGY HELPING. Some companies are finding that new technology is making termite work easier.

“Termite work is not as hard as it used to be because of the baiting systems,” said Derek Pumphrey, executive vice president, Brock Lawn & Pest Control. Based in Lynn Haven, Fla., the company is shifting away from doing liquid termiticide treatments to installing termite baiting systems.

“We don’t have to crawl into crawl-spaces and haul big drills and drop lights and extension cords and the things that we used to do. We still have to go under a house and inspect but that’s not like having to lay on your side and drill holes in the block,” he said.

COMBO WORK. In 2025, 18% of technicians specialized in performing only termite work, while 82% performed both termite and general pest work, found the PCT survey.

Pumphrey said performing both as part of a bundled general pest-termite baiting service can help extend a technician’s life in the field and increase their income.

“We have much older technicians that have been with us for longer periods of time that can do termite work as well as general pest. Bundle those services, and you go from a $18,000 general pest route to a $28,000, $30,000 bundled service route. It’s much more beneficial,” he said.

At some companies, experienced technicians can move into supervisory roles where they can share their knowledge without the same level of physical work.

On average, it takes 4.6 years for a technician to become well-versed in termite work, said PMPs.

HIRING CHALLENGES. The problem lies not so much with termite work but attracting quality employees in general.

“The reason that it’s harder now to find people to do termite work is just the work ethics and the ideology behind having a job anymore,” said Pumphrey, who added workers want the easy job and to be a manager in six months.

“So, yeah, if you find a good termite guy that is young and agile and likes to crawl under a house, he’s worth his weight in gold anymore,” he said.

John Etheridge, owner of Seashore Pest Control, Huntington Beach, Calif., agreed. “Finding the right people to hire is very difficult. I go through five to seven hires to find one person who’s good at the job, who I would want to keep and allow into my home,” he said.

Etheridge has five technicians and two full-time termite inspectors. He performs spot treatment and fumigation (through a subcontractor) for drywood termites. Liquid and foam treatments are used for subterranean termites.

Etheridge devotes significant time and resources to finding the right type of termite technician. “I want to find the guys that my wife would allow into our home and feel comfortable having them there. Finding them is a little more challenging,” he said.

Etheridge looks for new hires who are customer centric and have good listening skills. They have to want to solve the customer’s problem and address their concerns.

He said he turns away work every week because, “I don’t have enough employees. There are weeks I just can’t do all the calls for service,” he said.

It takes a special person to perform termite work, but it also requires continuous training and creating a culture where employees can ask questions.” — Scott Ballard

BASICS REMAIN THE SAME. Some aspects of termite work will never change.

“You’ve got to be able to inspect the house. You’ve got to be able to figure out where the termites are coming from and treat them, whether you do that with bait, liquid treatments, it doesn’t matter. Most of that is still the same as it’s been for 60 years,” said Pumphrey.

And while “it takes a special person” to perform termite work, it also requires continuous training and creating a culture where employees can ask questions, said Scott Ballard, owner, Ballard Pest Management, Opelika, Ala.

“Have that culture to be able to talk to each other and be OK if y’all aren’t on the same page, or if you don’t understand what you’re doing. It’s OK to ask questions,” said Ballard.

The author is a frequent PCT contributing writer.