Construction & Extraction
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Also called: Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Public Works Technician, Septic Cleaner
US median pay
$49,880
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+7.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
2,800
31,900 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.9/5
- Operations Monitoring3.6/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Repairing3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Transportation3.5/5
- Mechanical3.5/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Public Safety and Security3.4/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma40%
- Less than high school37%
- Post-secondary certificate22%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.