Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 31K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$49,880
Median hourly
$24
Average annual
$53,500
Typical range
$37,040–$73,490
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is $49,880 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $24 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $37,040 and $73,490 a year. There are roughly 31K people employed as septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.
- Hourly
- $23.98
- Daily
- $192
- Weekly
- $959
- Bi-weekly
- $1,918
- Monthly
- $4,157
- Annual
- $49,880
$49,880 a year is around the 50th percentile for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleanerss. The median is $49,880.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Nebraska$66,890
- 2New Jersey$64,650
- 3New Hampshire$64,590
- 4Washington$63,090
- 5Minnesota$62,190
- 6Connecticut$60,700
- 7Nevada$60,180
- 8Iowa$57,980
- 9Oregon$57,920
- 10Alaska$57,720
- 11Wisconsin$57,340
- 12Montana$56,860
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Rockford, IL$75,010
- 2Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$74,550
- 3Omaha, NE-IA$71,570
- 4Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$70,270
- 5San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$68,990
- 6Stockton-Lodi, CA$66,870
- 7Cedar Rapids, IA$66,010
- 8Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$65,930
- 9Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$64,180
- 10Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$63,750
- 11Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$63,610
- 12Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$63,420
Related job titles
Employers advertise Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners roles under these titles.
- Aseptic Tech (Aseptic Technician)
- Drain and Sewer Technician
- Electric Sewer Cleaning Machine Operator
- High Reach Operator
- Pipe Cleaning Machine Operator
- Priming Machine Operator
- Public Works Operator
- Public Works Technician
- Reach Operator
- Roto Rooter Operator
- Septic Cleaner
- Septic Pump Truck Driver
- Septic Tank Cleaner
- Septic Tank Service Technician
- Septic Technician
- Sewage Screen Operator
Related occupations
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
- Pipelayers$49,000
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$42,360
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$49,590
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
What a Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners does
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners make?
- The median annual wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is $49,880 ($24 per hour). Pay ranges from about $37,040 at the 10th percentile to $73,490 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $53,500, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleanerss the most?
- Nebraska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $66,890.
- Is Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 31K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners do?
- 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..