Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
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.
Also called: Drain Cleaner · Drain Technician · Public Works Technician · Septic Cleaner · Septic Pump Truck Driver · Septic Tank Service Technician
Median pay (national)
$49,140
$36,500–$73,670 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
29,050
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+7.6%
~2,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $73,670 versus $36,500 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $49,140 leaves roughly 50% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +7.6% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 50 states with released data, New Jersey pays the most for this role (median $63,420, +29% vs the national median), while West Virginia sits lowest at $28,010 — a 126% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
- Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
- Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
Tools & technology
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Route mapping software
- Web browser software
- Work scheduling software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training