Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary by state
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is a professional role in the Construction and Extraction job family, focused on Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleanerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
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.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingTroubleshootingTime ManagementRepairing
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners pay by experience level
Entry level$38,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$45,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$51,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$63,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$76,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+7.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,900
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary by industry
Waste Management and Remediation Services
17,420 workers
$53,500
Remediation and Other Waste Management Services
17,120 workers
$53,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
6,660 workers
$59,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
6,660 workers
$59,500
Specialty Trade Contractors
3,540 workers
$57,000
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
1,860 workers
$58,000
Building Equipment Contractors
1,680 workers
$56,000
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
970 workers
$63,000
Utility System Construction
950 workers
$63,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
320 workers
$65,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners pays 15% below the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
