Best programs to become a septic tank servicer
You do not need a college degree to become a septic tank servicer. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Plumbing Technology/Plumber (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 150 schools trains septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners, graduating 3,426 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $49,880 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Best programs to study to become a septic tank servicer
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 46.0503 | 3,426 | 100.0% | 150 | $35,730 | $9,500 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 272 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 83% | $29,731 | — |
| 2 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 223 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 28% | — | — |
| 3 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 181 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 78% | $17,771 | — |
| 4 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 131 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 5 | Summit College San Bernardino, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 95 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 62% | $25,402 | — |
| 6 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 89 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 21% | — | — |
| 7 | Porter & Chester Institute Bridgeport, CT Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 83 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 45% | $18,216 | — |
| 8 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 81 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 42% | — | — |
| 9 | Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Paterson, NJ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 68 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 81% | $23,023 | — |
| 10 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 65 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 9% | — | — |
| 11 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 64 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 56% | — | — |
| 12 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 63 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 53% | $17,520 | — |
| 13 | Dixie Technical College Saint George, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 58 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 77% | — | — |
| 14 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 56 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 35% | — | — |
| 15 | Pennco Tech - Bristol Bristol, PA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 55 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 84% | $22,272 | — |
| 16 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 55 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 44% | — | — |
| 17 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 54 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 35% | — | — |
| 18 | Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 45 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 84% | — | — |
| 19 | Adult and Continuing Education - BCTS Hackensack, NJ Public · 1 feeder program | 44 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 91% | — | — |
| 20 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 41 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 65% | — | — |
| 21 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 40 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 65% | — | — |
| 22 | Berk Trade and Business School Long Island City, NY Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 37 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 95% | $15,664 | — |
| 23 | Fort Hays State University - Northwest Kansas Technical College Goodland, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 37 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 73% | — | — |
| 24 | Professional Technical Institution Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 36 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 83% | $7,068 | — |
| 25 | Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 20% | — | — |
| 26 | Florida International Training Institute Miami, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 34 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 81% | $53,875 | 79% |
| 27 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 34% | — | — |
| 28 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 40% | — | — |
| 29 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 33 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 79% | $24,069 | — |
| 30 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 33 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 46% | — | — |
| 31 | Chabot College Hayward, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 30 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 47% | — | — |
| 32 | American River College Sacramento, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 29 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 37% | — | — |
| 33 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 29 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 57% | — | — |
| 34 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 28 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 90% | $19,184 | 80% |
| 35 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 27 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 24% | — | — |
| 36 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 26 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 53% | — | — |
| 37 | Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden Hamden, CT Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 26 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 32% | $21,819 | — |
| 38 | East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 24 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 68% | — | — |
| 39 | Union County Vocational Technical School Scotch Plains, NJ Public · 1 feeder program | 24 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 99% | — | — |
| 40 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 23 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 60% | $36,659 | 67% |
| 41 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD Public · 1 feeder program | 23 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 59% | — | — |
| 42 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 30% | — | — |
| 43 | Southern Maine Community College South Portland, ME Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 28% | — | — |
| 44 | Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 68% | — | — |
| 45 | Erie 1 BOCES West Seneca, NY Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 96% | — | — |
| 46 | Rio Hondo College Whittier, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 20 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 25% | — | — |
| 47 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 19 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 49% | — | — |
| 48 | Orange Technical College - South Campus Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 19 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 35% | — | — |
| 49 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 19 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 50% | — | — |
| 50 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 18 | Plumbing Technology/Plumber | 43% | — | — |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $46,150 | 1,330 | 0.68× | 20 | 494 |
| California | $55,220 | 3,130 | 0.87× | 10 | 314 |
| New York | $55,220 | 1,550 | 0.81× | 5 | 241 |
| Ohiolimited | $50,750 | 1,000 | 0.91× | 2 | 224 |
| Utah | $49,770 | 200 | 0.58× | 7 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,070 | 1,530 | 1.28× | 9 | 154 |
| Minnesota | $62,190 | 240 | 0.42× | 7 | 153 |
| New Jerseymoderate | $64,650 | 220 | 0.26× | 4 | 142 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 | 1,050 | 1.80× | 9 | 142 |
| Arizona | $47,670 | 590 | 0.93× | 7 | 119 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $60,700 | 280 | 0.83× | 3 | 112 |
| Alabamalimited | $47,370 | 400 | 0.97× | 2 | 102 |
| Texasmoderate | $43,860 | 2,430 | 0.87× | 4 | 97 |
| Iowa | $57,980 | 630 | 2.06× | 5 | 85 |
| Kansas | $46,960 | 150 | 0.54× | 6 | 84 |
| North Carolina | $47,280 | 1,020 | 1.04× | 5 | 80 |
| Missourilimited | $51,560 | 1,160 | 2.01× | 2 | 68 |
| Maine | $48,530 | 160 | 1.30× | 5 | 61 |
| Kentuckymoderate | $43,980 | 280 | 0.71× | 3 | 60 |
| Georgiamoderate | $51,880 | 590 | 0.61× | 4 | 54 |
| South Dakotalimited | $40,040 | 120 | 1.37× | 2 | 36 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $40,960 | 670 | 1.98× | 4 | 34 |
| Washingtonlimited | $63,090 | 1,600 | 2.28× | 1 | 33 |
| Tennesseelimited | $39,480 | 550 | 0.85× | 2 | 25 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $40,230 | 160 | 0.92× | 3 | 19 |
| Nebraskalimited | $66,890 | 300 | 1.48× | 2 | 18 |
| North Dakotalimited | $46,340 | 70 | 0.82× | 1 | 16 |
| Mississippilimited | $38,870 | 230 | 1.01× | 1 | 13 |
| Delawarelimited | $48,440 | 30 | 0.35× | 1 | 11 |
| Illinoislimited | $53,190 | 1,210 | 1.00× | 2 | 11 |
| Louisianalimited | $48,900 | 500 | 1.31× | 1 | 10 |
| Massachusettslimited | $53,080 | 620 | 0.86× | 1 | 10 |
| Michiganlimited | $50,040 | 1,080 | 1.25× | 2 | 7 |
| Montanalimited | $56,860 | 290 | 2.89× | 1 | 7 |
| South Carolinalimited | $46,660 | 640 | 1.40× | 1 | 4 |
| Coloradolimited | $51,700 | 500 | 0.87× | 2 | 3 |
| West Virginialimited | $36,200 | 70 | 0.54× | 1 | 3 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Speaking2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
- Writing2.5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.9
- Transportation3.5
- Mechanical3.5
- English Language3.4
- Public Safety and Security3.4
- Mathematics3.2
Abilities
- Manual Dexterity3.8
- Control Precision3.6
- Multilimb Coordination3.5
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.5
- Flexibility of Closure3.5
- Oral Comprehension3.5
Core activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.4
- Getting Information4.3
- Performing General Physical Activities4.2
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.7
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.6
- Documenting/Recording Information3.6
How to get in
How to become a septic tank servicer
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 46.0503Plumbing Technology/Plumber
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a septic tank servicer?+
You do not need a college degree to become a septic tank servicer. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Plumbing Technology/Plumber (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a septic tank servicer?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Plumbing Technology/Plumber (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 3,426 people a year.
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners earn?+
The median is $49,880 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $37,040 at the 10th percentile to $73,490 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners growing?+
BLS projects a +7.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 2,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
150 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Drain Cleaner, Service Technician, Septic Pump Truck Driver, Septic Tank Service Technician among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 47-4071.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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