It was dark outside and I couldn’t tell without being too close, though I suspect it’s a wasp and not a bee. It’s pretty large; how do I safely get rid of it? Or am I better off calling an exterminator for this one?

>>5012145 (OP)
or is it a species that’s relatively less aggressive and maybe even beneficial to leave alone?

>>5012145 (OP)
It's hornets
You just spray the next at night and wait then maybe the next night double up some thick trash bags spray pesticide in the bags then put it around the nest and pull it off closing the bag around it. You can put that in your freezer or whatever to make sure they're dead then just bin it.

looks like yellowjackets but also looks dead