If you’ve ever had a bat trapped in your attic or heard the frightening sound of cockroaches scampering through your kitchen cabinets, you’ve probably called an exterminator. These professionals, who are charged with removing unwanted critters from homes and other buildings, must know the biology of a wide range of pests, from termites to birds, and identify the best ways to eliminate or remove them.

Exterminators inspect buildings, take measurements, estimate the cost of their services and use chemicals and barriers to ensure pests don’t return. There are different kinds of exterminators, including fumigators, who seal off buildings and employ gases to suffocate or poison pests, and termite control technicians, who work to rid a building’s structure of insects. Exterminators must wear protective gear, such as gloves and goggles, while doing their work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.1% employment growth for exterminators between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 3,000 jobs should open up.

Usually, the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma or its equivalent. In most states, pest control workers must be licensed, though specific licensing requirements vary by state. Most employers offer on-the-job training, which typically lasts less than three months. Exterminators can study a specialization, such as rodent control or fumigation.