The 2026 Pest Control State of the Trades report delivers a clear signal: Optimism is back.
And so is the pressure to earn it.
With material costs at an all-time survey high, AI moving from curiosity to priority, and a widening gap between operators who have invested in their infrastructure and those who haven't, 2026 is a year where execution matters more than sentiment.
This FieldRoutes report surveyed more than 1,000 pest control operators to surface what's actually happening on the ground as well as what separates the businesses that are growing from the ones getting squeezed. A summary of the report's findings follows, and you can download the full analysis here.
Confidence in the pest control market jumped sharply this year, with more operators expecting improvement than at any point in recent surveys. But optimism isn't evenly distributed, and the businesses best positioned to capitalize have something in common.
53% of operators expect market conditions to improve in 2026; that’s an 18-point jump from last year.
But that optimism splits sharply by company size, and the gap shows up in surprising places.
For the first time, material costs topped the business risk rankings, surpassing every other concern. Smaller operators are feeling it hardest, but no segment is immune. The operators absorbing these increases best have something to teach the rest of the industry.
Material costs jumped 12 points year over year as the top cited business risk.
The report breaks down exactly how much of operators' cost structure materials now consume and which businesses are keeping that number in check.
Planned investment in new software was the fastest-growing investment category in the survey by a wide margin. Operators aren't adding more tools. They're consolidating around platforms built to do more with less.
Planned investment in new software more than doubled year over year.
Operators are prioritizing all-in-one software, but other factors influence decisions, too.
AI was on operators' radar in 2025. This year, it's their top technology priority for the next one to three years, pulling ahead of marketing automation, data analytics, and everything else. The question is no longer whether AI belongs in pest control. It's how to get started.
AI jumped to the No. 1 most anticipated technology for the next 1 to 3 years.
For multiple reasons, some operators are finding it difficult to make broader use of AI.
Larger operators are pulling ahead. It’s not just because they're bigger, but because they've built tighter operations. Scheduling, routing, communication, and retention are fundamentals that are compounding for the businesses that have invested in them. For those that haven't, the gap is getting harder to close.
Wage increases remain the top retention tool, but they're not the only one working.
Customer communication preferences are shifting in ways many operators haven't caught up to yet.
See how pest control operators across the country are navigating rising costs, a more competitive landscape, and a fast-moving technology shift. The data in this report can help you plan smarter, invest in the right places, and stay ahead in 2026.
