What is a 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.
A Day in the Life of a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner
- Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Update sewer maps and manhole charts.
- Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
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Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner Required Skills
When polled, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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 Jobs
- Drain Technician
- Priming Machine Operator
- Laborer
- Roto Rooter Operator
- Septic Technician
Job Outlook for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
In the United States, there were 28,500 jobs for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner in 2016. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,300 job openings in this field each year.

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
The typical yearly salary for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is somewhere between $25,900 and $61,320.

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 & Technology 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
Education needed to be a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner:

What work experience do I need to become a Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner?

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Sector

Below are examples of industries where Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
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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