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Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $49,880 Median per year · $23.98/hr Most earn $37,040–$73,490

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
  • Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
  • Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes.
  • Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins.
  • Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
  • Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
8% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 2,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Remediation and other waste management services54.1%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals21.4%
  • Other specialty trade contractors5.7%
  • Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors5.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level career. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the work on the job, usually within a few months of starting. You can check typical pay near you and nationally on this career's page.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with classes in math, shop, or science, which help with measuring, equipment, and safety rules.

  2. Construction Laborer

    1-3 months

    Start on a crew doing general site work, such as digging, lifting, and cleaning up. You learn tools, safety habits, and how underground work is done.

  3. Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner

    Ongoing, learned on the job

    Clean tanks and sewer lines, patch tank walls, and repair broken pipes under the guidance of experienced workers.

Where it can lead

  1. Plumber

    4-6 years of experience first

    Plumbers work on water supply, drain, and fixture systems in homes and buildings, usually after completing an apprenticeship and earning a license. It takes more training but opens up more types of plumbing work.

  2. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    Operators run and monitor systems that treat water and wastewater. The job focuses on process control and equipment checks, and it often requires a state certification.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, welding, or drafting classesHands-on classes build tool skills and show you whether you enjoy working with your hands.
  • Take math and science classesAlgebra and basic chemistry help with measuring, mixing, and understanding how waste systems work.
  • Get a starter jobA part-time job doing yard work, cleanup, or labor for a local contractor teaches work habits and reliability.
  • Volunteer with a community cleanup or public works projectHelping with drain clearing, storm cleanup, or road crews shows you what field work is like.
  • Ask a local septic or plumbing business for a job shadowSeeing a real service call helps you learn the daily routine and ask informed questions.

In college

  • Take courses in environmental science or water systemsClasses on wastewater, soil, or environmental health give useful background for this work and for related operator jobs.
  • Get a summer job or internship with a construction, utility, or septic companyHands-on experience on a crew is the fastest way to learn the work and build a work record.
  • Earn a driver's license and basic safety certificationsMany employers want drivers and workers who already know basic job-site safety, such as first aid or confined-space awareness.
  • Join a trade or skills club on campusClubs in construction, engineering, or the trades help you meet people in the field and learn about job openings.
  • Work a campus job that involves maintenance or facilitiesHelping the campus maintenance crew gives you practice with tools, repairs, and teamwork.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a septic or sewer company whether they hire helpers or laborers, and go along on a job if they let you. Seeing the work up close is the best way to decide if it fits you.
  • Get a driver's license early. Many service jobs in this field involve driving to job sites and hauling equipment.
  • Learn basic safety rules, like using gloves, masks, and confined-space precautions, and mention that you know them in interviews. Employers value workers who are careful and reliable.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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