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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.
Other titles employers use
Drain Cleaner · Drain Technician · Public Works Technician · Septic Cleaner · Septic Pump Truck Driver · Septic Tank Service Technician · Service Technician · Sewer Bricklayer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
Useful strengths
- Manual Dexterity
- Control Precision
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Flexibility of Closure
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.1 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.4 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 78%
- A certificate or some college 22%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
- Word processing software
- Route navigation software
- Internet browser software
- Calendar and scheduling software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 3,470
- Job openings each year
- 350
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 27.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,470 | 350 | 27.6% |
| California | 3,100 | 310 | 14.8% |
| New York | 1,930 | 30 | 15.6% |
| Florida | 1,800 | 180 | 17.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,390 | 130 | 6.1% |
| Ohio | 1,260 | 120 | 6.8% |
| Wisconsin | 1,240 | 120 | 8.8% |
| North Carolina | 1,170 | 120 | 25.8% |
| Washington | 1,090 | 110 | 11.2% |
| Michigan | 1,010 | 90 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 900 | 80 | 5.9% |
| Oregon | 900 | 90 | 16.9% |
| Colorado | 880 | 90 | 17.3% |
| Oklahoma | 870 | 80 | 8.8% |
| Missouri | 830 | 80 | 6.4% |
| Virginia | 810 | 80 | 5.2% |
| Indiana | 800 | 80 | 9.6% |
| Tennessee | 750 | 80 | 27.1% |
| Iowa | 660 | 70 | 13.8% |
| Alabama | 610 | 60 | 15.1% |
| South Carolina | 600 | 60 | 7.1% |
| Montana | 490 | 50 | 22.5% |
| Arizona | 470 | 50 | 17.5% |
| Minnesota | 470 | 50 | 11.9% |
| Georgia | 420 | 40 | 13.5% |
| Idaho | 410 | 40 | 32.3% |
| New Jersey | 410 | 40 | 2.5% |
| Kentucky | 340 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Utah | 280 | 30 | 33.3% |
| New Hampshire | 260 | 20 | 13.0% |
| Nevada | 240 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Louisiana | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Mississippi | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Connecticut | 190 | 20 | 11.8% |
| Maryland | 190 | 20 | 5.6% |
| South Dakota | 180 | 20 | 12.5% |
| Maine | 170 | 20 | −5.6% |
| New Mexico | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
| Massachusetts | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Alaska | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Nebraska | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Delaware | 130 | 10 | 30.0% |
| Wyoming | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Kansas | 90 | 10 | — |
| North Dakota | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Arkansas | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.