- In Oregon a pest control business needs a Commercial Pesticide Operator license from the Department of Agriculture, and the person applying pesticides needs a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Pay runs from about $19.18 an hour for the lowest-paid tenth of pest control technicians to $28.50 for the top tenth.
The path in Oregon, step by step
Oregon licenses pest control work at the state level through the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pesticides Program. These are the steps it lays out, in order.
- Pass the laws and safety exam and a category exam for the work you do.
- Get your Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
- License your business as a Commercial Pesticide Operator, with a certificate of insurance.
- Keep your applicator license tied to a licensed operator with the same categories.
The full license guide, with every fee and form: pest control license in Oregon.
Finding an apprenticeship in Oregon
Oregon runs Registered Apprenticeship through its own State Apprenticeship Agency, recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor to register and oversee programs there. Its staff are state employees, and it may use the federal paperwork or forms of its own. Apprenticeship.gov lists the Oregon State Apprenticeship Agency 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 Oregon
The license to aim for: Commercial Pesticide Operator license (business), plus a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
Trade exam. The laws and safety exam and at least one category exam.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| I.I.H.S. General pest | Pesticides other than fumigants in and around structures and establishments. |
| I.I.H.S. Structural | Wood destroying pests in and around structures. |
| I.I.H.S. Space fumigation | Fumigants in enclosed spaces and structures. |
| I.I.H.S. Moss control | Moss or algae on structures. |
What pest control technicians earn in Oregon
The median pest control technician in Oregon earned $22.39 an hour in May 2025, 15th of 50 states, with 740 on payrolls. The national median was $21.75.
At the bottom of the range, a quarter of pest control technicians in Oregon earned under $21.29 an hour and a tenth under $19.18. At the top, a quarter earned over $23.69 and a tenth over $28.50.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.18 | $39,890 |
| 25th percentile | $21.29 | $44,290 |
| Median | $22.39 | $46,570 |
| 75th percentile | $23.69 | $49,270 |
| 90th percentile | $28.50 | $59,270 |
Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: pest control technician salary in Oregon.
Starting your own pest control technician business in Oregon
To contract on your own in Oregon, the license is the Commercial Pesticide Operator license (business), plus a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.
Insurance. The operator license needs a certificate of insurance from your insurer or a copy of your policy.
Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the Oregon median of $22.39 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $109.91 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 Oregon'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.
- Pesticide license requirements (checked 2026-10-09)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-2021
- U.S. Department of Labor, Apprenticeship System (Office of Apprenticeship and State Apprenticeship Agencies) (checked 2026-10-09)
- U.S. Department of Labor, State Offices (checked 2026-10-09)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Program (checked 2026-10-09)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pest Control Workers (checked 2026-10-09)
Training, schools and certifications for every state: how to become a pest control technician.