Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Career, Salary and Skills
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $49,880 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 30,650. Wage data is published for 204 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
47-4071.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$49,880
Hourly median
$23.98
Employment
30,650
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.88 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Repairing | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
Technology
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Route mapping software
- Web browser software
- Work scheduling software
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in CAMedian $55,220 · Employment 3,130
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in TXMedian $43,860 · Employment 2,430
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in WAMedian $63,090 · Employment 1,600
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in NYMedian $55,220 · Employment 1,550
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in PAMedian $52,070 · Employment 1,530
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in FLMedian $46,150 · Employment 1,330
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in ILMedian $53,190 · Employment 1,210
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in MOMedian $51,560 · Employment 1,160
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in MIMedian $50,040 · Employment 1,080
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in WIMedian $57,340 · Employment 1,050
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in NCMedian $47,280 · Employment 1,020
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in OHMedian $50,750 · Employment 1,000
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.