Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner

Position Description 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.

• Tap mainline sewers to install sewer saddles.
• Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
• Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
• Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
• Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
• Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.

These are the skills Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation and Control
:
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring
:
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking
:
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening
:
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Equipment Maintenance
:
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting
:
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

• Sewer Cleaner
• Sewer and Drain Technician

In the United States, there were 28,500 jobs for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,900 new jobs for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Septic Tank Servicer or Sewer Pipe Cleaner are Utah, Hawaii, and Wyoming
. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, New Jersey, or Mississippi
. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

The salary for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners ranges between about $25,900 and $61,320 a year.

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners who work in Alaska, New Jersey, or Massachusetts
, make the highest salaries.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Word processing software
• Route mapping software