Pest Control Services

The 13,600 pest control services in the US exterminate and control the presence of unwanted creatures, such as insects, rodents, or other small animals. Companies may specialize in residential or non-residential services. Over 70% of industry revenue comes from residential services. Providers may also specialize in a particular industry, such as food manufacturing or health care.

Hazardous Substances

Pest control often involves the application of toxic chemicals that have the potential to harm humans, pets, plants, or the environment.

Government Regulation

Because pest control involves toxic substances, the EPA and state governments regulate various elements of operations, including licensing, record keeping, standards of application, training, and product registration.

Jul 24, 2026 - Rollins Results Signal Slower Residential Demand

• Rollins' second-quarter results reflect a resilient but moderating US pest control services industry, with commercial and recurring services continuing to outperform while softer consumer demand weighs on residential growth. Revenue increased 7.9% year over year, driven by strong commercial pest control (up 8.6%) and termite and ancillary services (up 10.5%), but residential organic growth slowed to 3.6% as fewer consumers sought one-time treatments such as mosquito, rodent, and carpenter ant services. Management cited weather, affordability pressures, gas prices, and weaker consumer-initiated demand as contributing factors, prompting a reduction in its 2026 organic growth outlook to at least 6%. Even so, improving lead volumes in late June and July, strong customer retention, continued pricing power, and ongoing acquisition activity suggest the industry's long-term fundamentals remain healthy despite near-term pressure on residential demand.
• Consumer confidence and sentiment both improved in recent weeks, a positive sign for US pest control providers as resilient household spending and improving economic expectations could support demand for both residential and commercial pest management services. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index edged up to 91.2 in June, the Present Situation Index declined to 116.4 as labor market perceptions softened, and the Expectations Index rose to 74.4 on improving outlooks for business conditions and incomes. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan's preliminary July Consumer Sentiment Index increased 9.9% to 54.4, the Current Economic Conditions Index climbed 15.1% to 54.9, and the Consumer Expectations Index rose 6.5% to 54.0. While improving confidence may support spending on preventive home maintenance, including pest control, lingering concerns about inflation, employment, and household budgets could keep consumers focused on essential treatments over discretionary or premium service offerings.
• Expanding mosquito activity across the US could boost demand for pest control services as warmer temperatures, higher humidity, and increased rainfall extend mosquito seasons into new regions, according to the latest Terminix data reported by Pest Control Technology. Terminix reported that mosquito pressure is spreading beyond traditional Southern markets, with Northeastern and Midwestern cities such as New York, Boston, Detroit, and Philadelphia seeing sharp increases in infestations. New York City ranked as the nation’s most mosquito-infested city for the first time in 2026. The trend creates growth opportunities for pest control companies through higher residential and commercial demand for mosquito treatments, seasonal prevention programs, and public-health-related services. Longer and less predictable mosquito seasons may also support recurring revenue and geographic expansion opportunities for pest control providers nationwide.
• US pest control services are likely to see increased demand in 2026 as the National Pest Management Association forecasts earlier and more intense pest activity nationwide, according to PestWorld.org. Erratic winter conditions, including extreme cold and heavy snowfall, allowed more pests to survive, while insulating snow cover created favorable breeding conditions. Regionally, activity is expected to accelerate across key markets: the Southeast and South Central will see early surges in termites, mosquitoes, and ants; the Midwest and Northeast will experience earlier tick, fly, and cockroach activity; and the West may see increased cockroach, rodent, and indoor pest pressure. Overall, earlier seasonal onset and broader geographic intensity point to extended service cycles and higher call volumes, reinforcing the importance of proactive pest management for both residential and commercial customers.

Industry size & Structure

The average pest control services provider operates out of a single location, employs 11 workers, and generates $1.6 million annually.

• The pest control services industry consists of about 13,600 companies that employ about 153,500 workers and generate about $21.5 billion annually.

• The industry is concentrated at the top and fragmented at the bottom; the top four firms account for about 30% of industry sales. The majority of pest control service providers are small, independent companies or franchises.

• Large companies include Rollins (Orkin) and Rentokil (Terminix).