Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary in the U.S.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners in the U.S. earn a median of $49,880 a year ($23.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,650 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,490 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $53,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| 25th percentile | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| Median | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| 75th percentile | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,490 | $35.33 |
| Average (mean) | $53,500 | $25.72 |
Half of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,156.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,078.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,918.46 |
| Weekly | $959.23 |
| Hourly | $23.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,880 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $66,890 | 300 |
| New Jersey | $64,650 | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $64,590 | 310 |
| Washington | $63,090 | 1,600 |
| Minnesota | $62,190 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $60,700 | 280 |
| Nevada | $60,180 | 220 |
| Iowa | $57,980 | 630 |
| Oregon | $57,920 | 560 |
| Alaska | $57,720 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 | 1,050 |
| Montana | $56,860 | 290 |
| Maryland | $56,410 | 160 |
| California | $55,220 | 3,130 |
| New York | $55,220 | 1,550 |
| Hawaii | $54,530 | 80 |
| Illinois | $53,190 | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $53,080 | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,070 | 1,530 |
| Georgia | $51,880 | 590 |
| Colorado | $51,700 | 500 |
| Missouri | $51,560 | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $50,750 | 1,000 |
| Michigan | $50,040 | 1,080 |
| Utah | $49,770 | 200 |
| Louisiana | $48,900 | 500 |
| Maine | $48,530 | 160 |
| Delaware | $48,440 | 30 |
| Indiana | $48,380 | 770 |
| Arizona | $47,670 | 590 |
| Wyoming | $47,520 | 90 |
| Alabama | $47,370 | 400 |
| North Carolina | $47,280 | 1,020 |
| Virginia | $47,150 | 890 |
| Kansas | $46,960 | 150 |
| Idaho | $46,860 | 230 |
| South Carolina | $46,660 | 640 |
| North Dakota | $46,340 | 70 |
| Florida | $46,150 | 1,330 |
| Vermont | $46,140 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $43,980 | 280 |
| Texas | $43,860 | 2,430 |
| Oklahoma | $40,960 | 670 |
| New Mexico | $40,230 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $40,040 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $39,480 | 550 |
| Mississippi | $38,870 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $38,330 | n/a |
| West Virginia | $36,200 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $75,010 | 50 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $74,550 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $71,570 | 180 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $70,270 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,990 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66,870 | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $66,010 | 60 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $65,930 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,180 | 830 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $63,750 | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $63,610 | 60 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,420 | 120 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $63,170 | 90 |
| Bellingham, WA | $62,940 | 110 |
| Bend, OR | $62,840 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 860 | $57,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 830 | $64,180 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 820 | $52,210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 600 | $55,420 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 530 | $51,250 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 520 | $51,940 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 480 | $59,020 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 450 | $45,240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 440 | $43,120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 380 | $59,100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 380 | $51,630 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 350 | $68,990 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 340 | $51,570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 340 | $47,300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 330 | $50,350 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| Fence Erector | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | $52.84 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in the U.S.?
The median salary for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the U.S. is $49,880 a year, or $23.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the U.S. earn at least $73,490 a year. The top 25% earn $61,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,040 a year, and a quarter of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners earn $43,530 or less.
How many septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners work in the U.S.?
About 30,650 septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.