# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/septic-tank-servicers-and-sewer-pipe-cleaners
- SOC code: 47-4071.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $49,880 (10th percentile $37,040, 90th percentile $73,490)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.8%
- Openings a year: 2,800
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 3 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 65/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 65/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 64/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 64/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 63/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 60/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Repairing, Time Management, Troubleshooting, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Transportation, Mechanical, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Building and Construction, Law and Government

## Also called

Aseptic Tech (Aseptic Technician), Drain and Sewer Technician, Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Electric Sewer Cleaning Machine Operator, High Reach Operator, Pipe Cleaning Machine Operator, Priming Machine Operator, Public Works Operator, Public Works Technician

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4605) (CIP 4605, 165 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $94,410 | $93,701 | not reported |
| [New England Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-england-institute-of-technology-1845) | Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | $49,923 | $54,989 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters): $63,800 median pay
- [Pipelayers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pipelayers): $49,000 median pay
- [Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators): $60,020 median pay
- [Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-pipelayers-plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters): $42,360 median pay
- [Maintenance and Repair Workers, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/maintenance-and-repair-workers-general): $49,590 median pay
- [Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaners-of-vehicles-and-equipment): $35,830 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.