Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners earn a median of $49,880 per year ($23.98/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 7.8% through 2035, with about 2,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-4071
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner in four numbers
- Median pay
- $49,880a year, or $23.98/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $73K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.8%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,80031,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202531.9K
- Projected 203534.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 31.9K Projected 2035 34.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school37.1%
- High school40.4%
- Certificate22.1%
- Some college0.3%
Highest education held by septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners Segment Value Less than high school 37.1% High school 40.4% Certificate 22.1% Some college 0.3%
Also advertised as: Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Public Works Technician, Septic Cleaner, Septic Pump Truck Driver, Septic Tank Service Technician.
Pay
How much do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners make?
Every septic tank servicer and sewer pipe cleaner in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$49,880
Middle half earn $43,530 to $61,060
- 10th
- $37,040
- 25th
- $43,530
- 75th
- $61,060
- 90th
- $73,490
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,040 |
| 25th | $43,530 |
| Median | $49,880 |
| 75th | $61,060 |
| 90th | $73,490 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $49,880
- Median hourly wage
- $23.98/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $53,500
- People employed
- 30,650
Versus all US occupations
At $49,880, the median for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 17% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $73,490 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,040, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 21% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Nebraska pays the most at $66,890, and still leads at $74,237 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Nebraska | $66,890 | $74,237 | 300 |
| 2New Jersey | $64,650 | $59,418 | 220 |
| 3New Hampshire | $64,590 | $62,007 | 310 |
| 4Washington | $63,090 | $58,955 | 1,600 |
| 5Minnesota | $62,190 | $63,060 | 240 |
| 6Connecticut | $60,700 | $58,585 | 280 |
| 7Nevada | $60,180 | $60,193 | 220 |
| 8Iowa | $57,980 | $66,065 | 630 |
| 9Oregon | $57,920 | $56,037 | 560 |
| 10Alaska | $57,720 | $56,390 | 280 |
Job outlook
Is Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | +7.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners to change 7.8% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,800 openings are projected each year, 8.8% of the 31,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)40.4%
- Less than a High School Diploma37.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate22.1%
- Some College Courses0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 40.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 37.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.1% |
| Some College Courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Speaking2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
- Writing2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Speaking | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Repairing3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Internet browser software
- Route navigation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.3
- Investigative2.1
- Social1.4
- Enterprising1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Production
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator
$60,020median a year
Most earn $39K to $91K
−5.7%High school - Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Pipelayer, Plumber, Pipefitter, and Steamfitter
$42,360median a year
Most earn $34K to $58K
+2.4%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Transportation and Material Moving
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
$35,830median a year
Most earn $27K to $48K
+3.9%No formal credential
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner$49,880
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner | $49,880 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner appears on
Questions
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner: frequently asked questions
How much do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners make?
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners earn a median of $49,880 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.98/hr. The middle half earn between $43,530 and $61,060. The top 10% earn $73,490 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner do?
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. A core O*NET task: drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners the most?
The highest state medians for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners are Nebraska ($66,890), New Jersey ($64,650), New Hampshire ($64,590) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner?
O*NET scores Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.