How to Become a Pest Control Technician in Mississippi: Steps, License and Pay

How to become a pest control technician in Mississippi

A business that solicits or performs pest control in Mississippi must first get a Company License from the Bureau of Plant Industry, and employ an Operator License holder in each category it works in. Pest control technicians there earned a median $17.89 an hour ($37,200 a year) in May 2025, 18% below the national median of $21.75. The state projects about 140 openings a year through 2032.

$17.89Median hourly pay

140Openings a year to 2032

YesState license

U.S. Labor Dept.Registers apprenticeships

The short version for Mississippi

A business that solicits or performs pest control in Mississippi must first get a Company License from the Bureau of Plant Industry, and employ an Operator License holder in each category it works in.
For wood destroying insect, general pest and rodent, and fumigation licenses: a high school diploma or equivalent and four years with a licensed operator in the last six years. Other categories need one year in the last two. A college route with qualifying coursework is also allowed.
Plan for a trade exam.
Pay runs from about $13.80 an hour for the lowest-paid tenth of pest control technicians to $25.91 for the top tenth.
Jobs are projected to grow 9.1% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the 3.2% projected nationally.

The path in Mississippi, step by step

Mississippi licenses pest control work at the state level through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry. These are the steps it lays out, in order.

Meet the education or experience requirement for your category.
Apply for the Operator License exam at least 10 days ahead. There is no fee to apply.
Pass the general standards exam and each category exam with 70 percent.
Get your company name approved, then apply for the Company License.
Carry the bond and insurance for your category.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: pest control license in Mississippi.

Finding an apprenticeship in Mississippi

Mississippi has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency, so the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers and oversees programs there through a state field office. Apprenticeship.gov lists the Mississippi Apprenticeship Office as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. Pest control is learned mostly on the job rather than in a long apprenticeship. Training can usually be finished in less than 3 months.

License levels and exams in Mississippi

The license to aim for: Company License, with an Operator License in each category.

Trade exam. A written exam with the general standards for commercial applicators, plus a separate exam for each category. You need 70 percent. Computer exams through Metro Institute cost $55 each.

License	What it covers
Wood destroying insect control (WDIL)	Termites, beetles and other wood destroying insects in homes and other structures.
General pest and rodent control (GRCL)	Roaches, ants, fleas, rats, mice and other pests that invade buildings.
Mosquito and biting fly control (MBFL)	Mosquitoes and biting flies only, including misting systems.
Fumigation pest control (FUML)	Pest control by fumigation.
Horticultural pest control (HCPL)	Ornamental plants, shade trees and lawns.

What the Mississippi license costs

The fees the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry lists. Exam fees from a testing company, insurance and any bond come on top.

Fee	Amount
Computer based exam, each	$55

What pest control technicians earn in Mississippi

The median pest control technician in Mississippi earned $17.89 an hour in May 2025, 49th of 50 states, with 960 on payrolls. The national median was $21.75.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of pest control technicians in Mississippi earned under $15.39 an hour and a tenth under $13.80. At the top, a quarter earned over $22.43 and a tenth over $25.91.

Pay level	Hourly	Yearly
10th percentile	$13.80	$28,700
25th percentile	$15.39	$32,010
Median	$17.89	$37,200
75th percentile	$22.43	$46,660
90th percentile	$25.91	$53,890

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: pest control technician salary in Mississippi.

Jobs ahead in Mississippi

Mississippi's labor market office projects jobs for pest control technicians growing from 990 in 2022 to 1,080 in 2032, a change of 9.1%. Counting people who retire or change careers, that is about 140 openings a year.

Jobs are projected to grow 9.1% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the 3.2% projected nationally, ranking 20th of the 39 states in the file.

These are the state's own long-term projections, published together on Projections Central for the occupation group pest control workers.

Starting your own pest control technician business in Mississippi

To contract on your own in Mississippi, the license is the Company License, with an Operator License in each category.

Insurance. Pest control companies carry insurance of $100,000 per occurrence and $200,000 a year in total, covering pollution, property damage, personal injury, and errors and omissions.

Bond. At least a $5,000 bond for any pest control category.

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the Mississippi median of $17.89 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $102.01 per billable hour. Try your own in the labor rate calculator.

The full checklist is in how to start a pest control business. The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans.

Where this comes from

The license steps, fees and rules are from the official pages below, read on the date shown. Pay is the BLS May 2025 state estimate, the job outlook is Mississippi's own long-term projection, and the apprenticeship details are from the U.S. Department of Labor. A detail an official page did not confirm is left out.

Training, schools and certifications for every state: how to become a pest control technician.

FAQ

How do you become a pest control technician in Mississippi?

Meet the education or experience requirement for your category. Apply for the Operator License exam at least 10 days ahead. There is no fee to apply. Pass the general standards exam and each category exam with 70 percent. The rest of the steps are on this page.

Do you need a pest control license in Mississippi?

Yes. A business that solicits or performs pest control in Mississippi must first get a Company License from the Bureau of Plant Industry, and employ an Operator License holder in each category it works in.

How much experience does Mississippi require?

For wood destroying insect, general pest and rodent, and fumigation licenses: a high school diploma or equivalent and four years with a licensed operator in the last six years. Other categories need one year in the last two. A college route with qualifying coursework is also allowed.

How much do pest control technicians make in Mississippi?

The median was $17.89 an hour, or $37,200 a year, in May 2025, from the BLS wage survey. The national median was $21.75.

Who runs apprenticeships in Mississippi?

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers programs in Mississippi, since the state has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency. Programs themselves are sponsored by employers, unions and trade groups.