Career comparison
Landscaper vs. Pest Control Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Pest control technicians earn more at the median ($45,250 vs. $39,150), while landscapers usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Landscapers plant, mow, trim and care for lawns, gardens and outdoor spaces. Pest control technicians inspect for and control insects, rodents and other pests in homes and businesses.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Landscaper | Pest Control Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $39,150 ($18.82/hr) | $45,250 ($21.75/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $31,150 – $56,730 | $34,680 – $61,890 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.7% (about as fast as average) | +5.5% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 149,500 | 13,700 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | 1–3 months |
| Key credential | NALP Landscape Industry Certified Technician | State commercial pesticide applicator license |
| Work setting | Landscapers work outdoors in heat, cold and rain, using power equipment and lifting heavy materials.. | Technicians work in homes, businesses, crawl spaces, attics and outdoors. |
What each job does
Landscaper
- Mow, edge and trim lawns
- Plant trees, shrubs and flowers
- Spread mulch and install sod
- Prune shrubs and small trees
- Install and repair irrigation
Pest Control Technician
- Inspect properties for pests and conditions that attract them
- Identify insects, rodents and wildlife
- Apply pesticides and baits according to label directions
- Set and service traps and monitoring stations
- Seal entry points and recommend repairs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, hands-on work, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, agriculture, landscaping & animal care and safety & environmental, but share transferable skills such as stamina and customer service.
Which should you choose?
Choose landscaper if…
- I love being outdoors
- I don’t mind hard work
- I want to start right away
Choose pest control technician if…
- I don’t mind bugs, rodents or crawl spaces
- I like working on my own
- I enjoy solving problems
Still torn? Take the Landscaper fit quiz and the Pest Control Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, landscaper or pest control technician?
Pest Control Technicians earn more at the median: $45,250 versus $39,150 for landscapers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Landscapers typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than pest control technicians (1–3 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects pest control technicians to grow +5.5% from 2025–35, compared with +4.7% for landscapers.