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What You Need to Know About Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner

Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner Job Description Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.

Life As a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner: What Do They Do?

  • Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
  • Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
  • Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
  • Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
  • Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels.
  • Update sewer maps and manhole charts.

Skills Needed to be a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner

Below is a list of the skills most Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners say are important on the job.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Types of Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner

  • Septic Cleaner
  • Public Works Technician
  • Sewage Screen Operator
  • Septic Pump Truck Driver
  • Drain Cleaner

Job Demand for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 28,500 jobs in the United States for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,900 new jobs for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,300 positions for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner are Utah, Hawaii, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, New Jersey, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners make between $25,900 and $61,320 a year.

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Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners who work in Alaska, New Jersey, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

How much do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $35,560
Alaska $50,370
Arizona $40,100
Arkansas $31,790
California $44,160
Colorado $47,320
Connecticut $44,840
Delaware $39,650
Florida $37,890
Georgia $35,560
Hawaii $45,530
Idaho $31,900
Illinois $50,090
Indiana $39,300
Iowa $43,430
Kansas $35,920
Kentucky $41,090
Louisiana $35,740
Maine $35,640
Maryland $40,340
Massachusetts $49,770
Michigan $40,040
Minnesota $43,930
Mississippi $30,000
Missouri $36,290
Montana $36,110
Nebraska $41,420
Nevada $47,050
New Hampshire $40,170
New Jersey $56,060
New Mexico $34,190
New York $42,090
North Carolina $34,210
North Dakota $44,790
Ohio $43,150
Oklahoma $31,710
Oregon $47,860
Pennsylvania $45,520
Rhode Island $41,700
South Carolina $34,090
South Dakota $34,100
Tennessee $34,880
Texas $32,960
Utah $45,090
Vermont $36,350
Virginia $41,800
Washington $44,070
West Virginia $39,090
Wisconsin $45,930
Wyoming $44,190

What Tools do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Web browser software
  • Data entry software
  • Word processing software
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Work scheduling software
  • Route mapping software

Becoming a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner

Individuals working as a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner?

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Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Sector

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The table below shows the approximate number of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners employed by various industries.

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: Tomwsulcer via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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