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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Pest Control Workers by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Pest Control Workers the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Reno ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $58,321/year, better purchasing power than Reno's higher nominal pay of $58,910. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Reno$58,910
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$58,380
#3 Kahului-Wailuku$55,390

Best purchasing power

#1 Reno$58,321
#2 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux$54,160
#3 Des Moines-West Des Moines$52,563

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed pest control workers excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Reno
38% rent burden
$58,910
$58,321
#2
$46,090
$54,160
#3
$48,200
$52,563
#4
$58,380
$52,533
#5
Baton Rouge
31% rent burden
$46,880
$51,641
#6
Florence
30% rent burden
$44,460
$51,239
#7
$43,230
$50,997
#8
Kahului-Wailuku
57% rent burden
$55,390
$50,635
#9
New Orleans-Metairie
34% rent burden
$46,610
$50,335
#10
Peoria
27% rent burden
$45,360
$49,720
#11
Toledo
28% rent burden
$45,430
$49,677
#12
Spokane-Spokane Valley
27% rent burden
$49,550
$49,377
#13
$45,710
$49,294
#14
$49,240
$49,132
#15
Rochester
40% rent burden
$47,350
$48,799
#16
Milwaukee-Waukesha
34% rent burden
$47,300
$48,793
#17
Lexington-Fayette
34% rent burden
$45,240
$48,703
#18
Winston-Salem
33% rent burden
$44,600
$48,457
#19
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
35% rent burden
$46,110
$48,111
#20
$53,050
$48,044
#21
Ocala
36% rent burden
$45,750
$48,042
#22
Durham-Chapel Hill
44% rent burden
$46,720
$47,884
#23
Greensboro-High Point
36% rent burden
$44,460
$47,879
#24
Asheville
41% rent burden
$46,050
$47,715
#25
Syracuse
37% rent burden
$45,670
$47,702

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Pest Control Workers?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $58,910 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $49,092 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A pest control workers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Pest Control Workers?

Peoria has one of the lowest rent burdens for Pest Control Workers in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,039/month, with a median salary of $45,360.

Where do Pest Control Workers get paid the most in nominal terms?

Reno pays the highest nominal median salary at $58,910/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Pest Control WorkersView →How to become a pest control workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →