Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

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.

Median wage

$49,140

$36,500–$73,670

Projected growth

—

Annual openings

—

per year

Employed (US)

29,050

Job Zone 2

Typical preparation

Some preparation

Stackable credential programs

70 mapped

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Core skills

Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control Analysis

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceTransportationMechanicalEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and Security

Technology & tools

Accounting softwareSpreadsheet softwareWord processing softwareRoute navigation softwareInternet browser software

Representative tasks

Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.Pump, clean, and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.

Competency framework

Skill expectations by proficiency level.

emerging

Two-way radio and wireless communication devices — operate under direct supervision to relay basic status updates between field crew and dispatcher.Service truck and crew transport — ride along and assist with loading materials and equipment under a lead technician's direction at residential and municipal job sites.Manhole covers and access points — locate and open under supervision to support inspection of sewer line stoppages in urban service areas.Power rodders and basic sewer cleaning attachments — assist in setting up and feeding equipment into sewer lines under close technician oversight.Daily work order forms and paper maintenance logs — record actions taken during service calls with guidance from a supervisor at the end of each shift.Septic tank access lids and basic hand tools — assist in opening tanks and removing surface debris under direct instruction on residential service calls.Plumber's snakes and tapelines — use under supervision to measure short sewer runs and mark excavation points as directed by a lead worker.Cleaning equipment and vehicle attachments — perform basic post-job rinse and visual checks following established checklists after each service run.Personal protective equipment (PPE) — don and inspect gloves, boots, and respirators correctly before entering confined-space or sewage environments.Safety protocols and confined-space entry rules — follow written procedures under supervision to support public safety compliance on every job site.

developing

Wireless phones, pagers, and radio telephones — communicate service progress and schedule changes independently with supervisors and co-workers across multiple daily jobs.Tanker and vac-all trucks — drive to transport crew, materials, and equipment safely over assigned routes using navigation software without direct supervision.Sewer manholes and visible pipeline segments — inspect and document stoppages, flow obstructions, and structural anomalies during routine service-area walkthroughs.High-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, and wayne balls — operate the full range of cleaning equipment to clear blockages in residential and light commercial sewer lines.Digital maintenance logs and spreadsheet software — prepare accurate, legible records of repair actions, pump-out volumes, and service times for each completed job.Septic tanks, culverts, and catch basins — clean and perform minor repairs including resetting lids, patching minor cracks, and replacing inlet baffles on familiar system types.Bucket machines and cutting heads — deploy and retrieve within sewer lines to measure excavation depth and mark dig areas with minimal supervision.Mechanical seals, belts, and pump fittings — service and adjust cleaning equipment and vehicle attachments to maintain uptime between scheduled maintenance intervals.Quality control checklists and visual inspection criteria — apply after each tank pump-out or line cleaning to verify work meets municipal and company standards.Time management tools and scheduling software — organize daily service routes to complete multiple pump-out and cleaning appointments within allotted windows.

proficient

Radio and cellular communication systems — coordinate independently between field crews, dispatchers, and municipal clients to resolve urgent service disruptions across a territory.Specialized tanker, hydro-jet, and vacuum combination trucks — operate and maneuver full equipment fleet on congested urban streets and confined residential driveways.Sewer system maps and camera inspection data — analyze manhole-to-manhole segments to diagnose root intrusion, pipe collapse, or chronic repeat stoppages without supervision.Power rodders, high-velocity jets, bucket machines, and vac-alls — select the optimal cleaning method and configure equipment parameters for complex or heavily blocked commercial sewer systems.Maintenance databases, word processing, and accounting software — produce thorough records and client-facing service reports that satisfy regulatory reporting requirements.Septic tanks, sewer mains, manholes, and culverts — execute full-scope cleaning, repair, and rehabilitation work on non-routine or deteriorated infrastructure in varied field conditions.Plumber's snakes, tapelines, and laser measuring tools — independently survey excavation sites, calculate depths, and direct mark-out for contractors performing trench work.Equipment diagnostic procedures and parts inventories — troubleshoot mechanical failures on pumps, hydraulic systems, and water-jet units and perform qualified repairs in the field.Inspection findings and quality control data — evaluate completed work against applicable codes and customer specifications, identifying deficiencies and directing corrective action.Public safety and hazardous-atmosphere protocols — autonomously apply confined-space rescue readiness and spill-containment procedures during high-risk pump-out or repair operations.

advanced

Team communication standards and radio protocols — establish and enforce field communication procedures that keep multiple service crews and dispatch aligned across a regional operation.Fleet routing and vehicle deployment strategy — design optimized route plans using navigation and scheduling software to maximize productivity and minimize fuel costs organization-wide.Condition assessment programs and inspection schedules — develop systematic manhole and sewer inspection programs that prioritize infrastructure risk across a municipal service contract.Cleaning equipment specifications and procurement decisions — evaluate and recommend high-velocity jet, vac-all, and rodder acquisitions based on performance data and evolving service demands.Regulatory compliance recordkeeping systems — design and implement digital documentation frameworks that satisfy state environmental and municipal reporting requirements across all crews.Preventive maintenance and infrastructure rehabilitation plans — create multi-year septic and sewer maintenance schedules that extend asset life and reduce emergency callout rates.Excavation and measurement standards — author standard operating procedures for site measurement and mark-out that are adopted as company-wide training and safety references.Equipment maintenance programs and technician training curricula — build preventive maintenance schedules and hands-on training modules that raise mechanical competency across the entire workforce.Quality assurance frameworks and customer service standards — institute inspection and callback-tracking systems that drive continuous improvement in service quality and client satisfaction scores.Organizational safety culture and mentorship programs — lead safety briefings, mentor emerging technicians, and champion a culture of dependability and stress-tolerant professionalism across the department.

Also known as

29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.

Septic Tank CleanerPriming Machine OperatorSewer and Drain TechnicianSewer Pipe CleanerElectric Sewer Cleaning Machine OperatorTransport Tank TechnicianAseptic Tech (Aseptic Technician)Drain CleanerSewer Line RepairerSeptic CleanerPublic Works TechnicianHigh Reach OperatorSewer-Pipe CleanerSewer BricklayerRoto Rooter OperatorDrain and Sewer TechnicianReach OperatorSeptic Pump Truck DriverSeptic TechnicianStormwater TechnicianSewer TechnicianService TechnicianSeptic Tank Service TechnicianPipe Cleaning Machine OperatorSewer CleanerDrain TechnicianSewage Screen OperatorPublic Works OperatorSewer-Line Repairer

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