Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners keep wastewater and sewer systems functioning reliably. This occupation employs about 30,000 people nationwide and typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to many job seekers and career changers. The national median annual salary is $49,140, with higher medians available in several states and metro areas. A wide mix of skills is valuable in this work, including physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, problem solving, customer service, and critical and analytical thinking. Projected employment growth of 7.6% and around 3,000 annual openings suggest consistent hiring needs. For individuals comfortable working with their hands, using mechanical and fine motor skills, and interacting with customers, this role offers a practical path to stable employment, with room to target regions and cities that show higher salaries and stronger CareerGPS opportunity scores.
The national median annual salary for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners is $49,140, with pay varying across states and metro areas. Several states report higher median wages, including Washington at $63,090, California and New York at $55,220, Massachusetts at $53,080, and Colorado at $51,700. At the metro level, some areas stand out with even higher medians. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $68,990, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $61,200, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $59,100. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro shows a median of $57,260, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV reports $56,420. These figures indicate that earnings can differ meaningfully by location, giving workers the option to target regions that align with their income goals while remaining in the same occupation.
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners have national employment of about 30,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 7.6%. This growth projection, combined with approximately 3,000 annual openings, indicates ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers. The presence of annual openings suggests that jobs become available not only from employment growth but also from turnover and movement within the occupation. The 7.6% projected increase applies broadly, including in highlighted states and metro areas, providing a consistent view of future demand across different regions. For job seekers, these numbers point to a career path with regular hiring activity and opportunities to enter or advance. For current workers, the combination of steady employment levels and projected growth may support longer-term career planning within this field, especially when combined with location choices that also offer stronger salaries or higher CareerGPS opportunity scores.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners. Among states, California leads with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $55,220, and employment of 3,130. Massachusetts and New York also show strong scores, at 65.87 and 65.78 respectively, with median salaries above $53,000 and employment ranging from 620 in Massachusetts to 1,550 in New York. Washington stands out for its $63,090 median salary, the highest among the listed states, while Colorado offers a median of $51,700 and an opportunity score of 56.97. At the metro level, differences are even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ both post opportunity scores above 77, the highest in the list. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines a strong score of 68.75 with the highest listed metro median salary of $68,990, giving workers multiple high-opportunity urban markets to consider.
The typical education requirement for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates an entry path that does not depend on a college degree, while still rewarding a broad and well-developed skill set. Physical strength and stamina are important, reflecting the hands-on nature of the work. Mechanical and fine motor skills support working effectively with tools and equipment. Strong problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, help workers address technical issues as they arise. Customer service and interpersonal skills matter for interacting with clients and coworkers, while science and mathematics knowledge supports more technical aspects of the role. Project management skills contribute to organizing tasks and jobs efficiently. Together, these skills give candidates with a high school education and practical abilities a clear framework for developing themselves into competitive applicants in this occupation.
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