Pest Management

What does the Pest Management career field do?

Manages, evaluates, and executes pest management techniques and associated pest management environmental compliance. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 172000.

Duties and responsibilities

• Performs integrated pest management functions. Conducts pest management surveys. Determines pest management actions needed to control and prevent infestations of plant and animal pests. Interacts and coordinates with medical activities to control health hazards. Selects chemicals and operates pesticide dispersal equipment. Provides maximum benefits consistent with environmental protection parameters. Ensures compliance with applicable laws and directives.
• Maintains tools, equipment, facilities, and storage areas. Ensures correct use and maintenance of personal protective equipment and tools.
• Plans and coordinates activities. Evaluates proposed work, determines resource requirements, and prepares cost estimates. Identifies, budgets for, and acquires specialized equipment. Inspects facilities and provides assistance to building managers on pest preventative and control practices. Maintains historical databases and tracking systems.
• Performs quality assurance and evaluation of contracted pest management functions.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: biological principles relating to plant and animal classification and control.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in biology and mathematics is mandatory; chemistry and earth science courses are desirable.

Training. The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3E433. Completion of the basic Pest Management Apprentice J3ABR3E433 00AE course.
• 3E473. Completion of USAFSAM B3XZYOECXX 0A1A Operational Entomology Course (OEC) course.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3E453. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E433. Also, experience in functions such as pest surveys, pesticide application, operation and maintenance of pesticide equipment, and pesticide storage
• 3E473. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E453. Also, experience performing or supervising functions such as planning, coordinating integrated pest management activities, and pesticide storage.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into the specialty, the following are mandatory:
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Vehicle Operations.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs:
• No record of entomophobia (fear of insects, spiders, etc.), ophiciophobia (fear of snakes), zoophobia (fear of animals) and claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), or hypersensitivity to chemicals or arthropod (insect, spider, scorpion, etc.) and snake venoms.
• Freedom from fear of heights (acrophobia).
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• For retention of AFSCs 3E453 and 3E473, certification and recertification according to DoD’s EPA approved certification program.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs, must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 3 skill level, 2 years of lack of recent performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW DAFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 5 skill level, 4 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW DAFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 7or 9 skill level, 6 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW DAFMAN 36-2100.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $30,640–$116,350 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Agricultural Inspectors: $46,700
• Agricultural Technicians: $41,970
• Animal Control Workers: $38,430
• Compliance Managers: $116,350
• Environmental Compliance Inspectors: $71,100
• Forest and Conservation Workers: $30,640
• General and Operations Managers: $103,650
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: $76,340
• Occupational Health and Safety Technicians: $53,340
• Pest Control Workers: $37,820
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation: $36,630
• Soil and Plant Scientists: $66,120