Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners include:
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aseptic Tech (Aseptic Technician)
- Drain Cleaner
- Drain Technician
- Drain and Sewer Technician
- Electric Sewer Cleaning Machine Operator
- High Reach Operator
- Pipe Cleaning Machine Operator
- Priming Machine Operator
Employment and Demand
There are about 761,995 septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,706 |
| Hourly median | $32.07 |
| 10th percentile | $37,303 |
| 25th percentile | $52,004 |
| 75th percentile | $81,408 |
| 90th percentile | $96,109 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $63,420 |
| Washington | $61,570 |
| Nebraska | $60,790 |
| Maryland | $59,800 |
| Connecticut | $58,430 |
| Minnesota | $58,140 |
| North Dakota | $57,210 |
| New Hampshire | $56,180 |
| Wisconsin | $56,020 |
| Oregon | $55,900 |
| California | $54,080 |
| Ohio | $52,660 |
| Colorado | $52,530 |
| Hawaii | $52,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,000 |
| Iowa | $51,950 |
| Massachusetts | $51,350 |
| Illinois | $51,060 |
| New York | $50,910 |
| Alaska | $49,480 |
| Michigan | $49,440 |
| Montana | $49,410 |
| Utah | $48,720 |
| Missouri | $48,450 |
| Indiana | $48,380 |
| Nevada | $48,230 |
| Florida | $47,650 |
| Maine | $47,020 |
| South Dakota | $46,910 |
| Louisiana | $46,490 |
| Arizona | $46,450 |
| Kansas | $45,610 |
| Virginia | $45,380 |
| Kentucky | $44,500 |
| North Carolina | $44,390 |
| Idaho | $44,360 |
| Vermont | $44,180 |
| Wyoming | $44,180 |
| Guam | $44,030 |
| Texas | $44,000 |
| Tennessee | $43,850 |
| New Mexico | $43,680 |
| Delaware | $42,800 |
| Georgia | $42,510 |
| Alabama | $42,130 |
| South Carolina | $42,030 |
| Oklahoma | $40,910 |
| Mississippi | $37,700 |
| Arkansas | $32,980 |
| West Virginia | $28,010 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $56,239 | 19.4% | 1.47 |
| Middle Atlantic | $52,535 | 13.0% | 1.01 |
| New England | $52,251 | 3.8% | 0.98 |
| Great Lakes | $51,542 | 16.6% | 1.24 |
| Plains States | $51,202 | 9.5% | 1.97 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,162 | 5.7% | 1.81 |
| Southeast | $44,574 | 19.9% | 0.91 |
| Southwest | $43,580 | 12.2% | 1.13 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $71,590 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $68,450 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $65,160 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | IA | $64,320 | 60 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $64,280 | 80 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $63,480 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $62,830 | 780 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $62,670 | 230 |
Top Industries Employing Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
The largest employers of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 16,640 | $47,540 |
| Construction | 5,280 | $50,860 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 440 | $60,740 |
| Utilities | 100 | $49,180 |
| Manufacturing | 70 | $48,940 |
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners work in the following industries:
Software Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Use
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners reflects the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Exposed to Contaminants
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Pipelayers (Primary-Short)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (Supplemental)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners).
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