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Pest Controller salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a pest controller is $70,200 per annum, before tax, up $14,700 since 2018.
How you are paid shapes the figure more than anything else. Technicians employed by larger companies often earn a base wage plus overtime and after-hours or on-call loadings, while owner-operators and franchisees earn from each job and carry their own vehicle, chemical and insurance costs. The pest types you are licensed for also matters, since termite management and fumigation work generally sits above general spraying.
Roles that pay more than pest controller
The largest typical pay rise is $31,700 a year, moving into Truck Driver.
- Truck Driver+$31,700/yr
- Weeds Officer+$5,200/yr
- Asbestos Removalist+$5,200/yr
How to negotiate a higher pest controller salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time pest controller salary is $70,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Worksite safety management and Plant and equipment operation tend to command a premium over general pest controller experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Truck Driver pays a typical $31,700 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Pest Controller salary questions
How much do pest controllers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a pest controller is $70,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is pest controller pay rising or falling?
The median pest controller salary is up $14,700 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than pest controller?
Truck Driver pays a typical $31,700 a year more and draws on similar skills to pest controller.