Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Mean (average) | $53,500 | $25.72 |
| 90th percentile | $73,490 | $35.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,370 | $37,610 | $57,500 | 400 | 0.97 |
| Alaska | $57,720 | $49,740 | $75,970 | 280 | 4.43 |
| Arizona | $47,670 | $35,360 | $62,450 | 590 | 0.93 |
| Arkansas | $38,330 | $33,880 | $47,350 | ||
| California | $55,220 | $39,890 | $79,260 | 3,130 | 0.87 |
| Colorado | $51,700 | $39,990 | $74,450 | 500 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut | $60,700 | $50,330 | $79,190 | 280 | 0.83 |
| Delaware | $48,440 | $37,440 | $56,930 | 30 | 0.35 |
| Florida | $46,150 | $36,760 | $64,000 | 1,330 | 0.68 |
| Georgia | $51,880 | $36,470 | $67,200 | 590 | 0.61 |
| Hawaii | $54,530 | $48,600 | $71,860 | 80 | 0.64 |
| Idaho | $46,860 | $36,870 | $64,000 | 230 | 1.38 |
| Illinois | $53,190 | $35,380 | $81,390 | 1,210 | 1 |
| Indiana | $48,380 | $35,210 | $68,490 | 770 | 1.21 |
| Iowa | $57,980 | $40,650 | $72,660 | 630 | 2.06 |
| Kansas | $46,960 | $36,450 | $53,000 | 150 | 0.54 |
| Kentucky | $43,980 | $35,980 | $65,600 | 280 | 0.71 |
| Louisiana | $48,900 | $39,590 | $76,080 | 500 | 1.31 |
| Maine | $48,530 | $36,930 | $59,260 | 160 | 1.3 |
| Maryland | $56,410 | $37,910 | $70,910 | 160 | 0.29 |
| Massachusetts | $53,080 | $44,670 | $73,240 | 620 | 0.86 |
| Michigan | $50,040 | $40,900 | $62,460 | 1,080 | 1.25 |
| Minnesota | $62,190 | $44,520 | $76,190 | 240 | 0.42 |
| Mississippi | $38,870 | $26,530 | $60,670 | 230 | 1.01 |
| Missouri | $51,560 | $39,640 | $63,770 | 1,160 | 2.01 |
| Montana | $56,860 | $39,130 | $79,170 | 290 | 2.89 |
| Nebraska | $66,890 | $42,210 | $71,570 | 300 | 1.48 |
| Nevada | $60,180 | $45,510 | $64,810 | 220 | 0.71 |
| New Hampshire | $64,590 | $46,710 | $82,160 | 310 | 2.3 |
| New Jersey | $64,650 | $49,970 | $90,210 | 220 | 0.26 |
| New Mexico | $40,230 | $34,520 | $47,960 | 160 | 0.92 |
| New York | $55,220 | $38,520 | $74,720 | 1,550 | 0.81 |
| North Carolina | $47,280 | $36,510 | $71,690 | 1,020 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $46,340 | $42,410 | $78,570 | 70 | 0.82 |
| Ohio | $50,750 | $39,040 | $76,290 | 1,000 | 0.91 |
| Oklahoma | $40,960 | $32,830 | $54,530 | 670 | 1.98 |
| Oregon | $57,920 | $41,140 | $71,030 | 560 | 1.43 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,070 | $38,320 | $74,030 | 1,530 | 1.28 |
| South Carolina | $46,660 | $33,350 | $59,440 | 640 | 1.4 |
| South Dakota | $40,040 | $36,810 | $57,300 | 120 | 1.37 |
| Tennessee | $39,480 | $29,880 | $60,760 | 550 | 0.85 |
| Texas | $43,860 | $34,670 | $64,380 | 2,430 | 0.87 |
| Utah | $49,770 | $45,850 | $70,700 | 200 | 0.58 |
| Vermont | $46,140 | $39,780 | $62,750 | 140 | 2.39 |
| Virginia | $47,150 | $36,610 | $62,570 | 890 | 1.09 |
| Washington | $63,090 | $46,690 | $83,830 | 1,600 | 2.28 |
| West Virginia | $36,200 | $23,320 | $43,630 | 70 | 0.54 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 | $35,640 | $73,530 | 1,050 | 1.8 |
| Wyoming | $47,520 | $37,550 | $63,320 | 90 | 1.57 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Plumbing Technology/Plumber CIP 46.0503
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Route mapping software
- Web browser software
- Work scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Public Works Technician, Septic Cleaner, Septic Pump Truck Driver, Septic Tank Service Technician, Service Technician, Sewer Bricklayer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make?
The national median annual wage for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners was $49,880 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,040 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $73,490. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners a growing career?
BLS projects employment of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners to change +7.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Nebraska ($66,890), New Jersey ($64,650), New Hampshire ($64,590). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.