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Drain cleaner: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,880median pay per year, or $23.98 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,040lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,53025th percentile
  3. $49,880median
  4. $61,06075th percentile
  5. $73,490top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Drain cleaners, which BLS calls septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners, had median pay of $49,880 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow faster than the rate for all occupations from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.8%[2]
Openings per year
2,800[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do drain cleaners make?

The median pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners was $49,880 a year, or $23.98 an hour[1]. Half the workers in this job made more than that and half made less[1]. The average was $53,500 a year, or $25.72 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,040, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $73,490[4]. The 25th percentile was $43,530 and the 75th was $61,060[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.81 and the 90th was $35.33[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not count benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11]. About 30,650 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 49 states with published data, Nebraska had the highest median at $66,890, followed by New Jersey at $64,650 and New Hampshire at $64,590[13]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median at $36,200[13].

The most jobs were in California (3,130), Texas (2,430), Washington (1,600), New York (1,550) and Pennsylvania (1,530)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Omaha, NE-IA had the highest median at $71,570[15]. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI was next at $70,270, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA third at $68,990[15]. The metro with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 860, where the median was $57,260[16].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Nebraska[13]$66,890300
New Jersey$64,650220
New Hampshire$64,590310
Washington$63,0901,600
Minnesota$62,190240
Connecticut$60,700280
Nevada$60,180220
Iowa$57,980630
Oregon$57,920560
Alaska$57,720280
Wisconsin$57,3401,050
Montana$56,860290
Maryland$56,410160
California$55,2203,130
New York$55,2201,550
Hawaii$54,53080
Illinois$53,1901,210
Massachusetts$53,080620
Pennsylvania$52,0701,530
Georgia$51,880590
Colorado$51,700500
Missouri$51,5601,160
Ohio$50,7501,000
Michigan$50,0401,080
Utah$49,770200
Louisiana$48,900500
Maine$48,530160
Delaware$48,44030
Indiana$48,380770
Arizona$47,670590
Wyoming$47,52090
Alabama$47,370400
North Carolina$47,2801,020
Virginia$47,150890
Kansas$46,960150
Idaho$46,860230
South Carolina$46,660640
North Dakota$46,34070
Florida$46,1501,330
Vermont$46,140140
Kentucky$43,980280
Texas$43,8602,430
Oklahoma$40,960670
New Mexico$40,230160
South Dakota$40,040120
Tennessee$39,480550
Mississippi$38,870230
Arkansas$38,330n/a
West Virginia$36,20070

How to become a drain cleaner

BLS describes the typical path this way[7]:

In an ONET survey of 27 workers, 40% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 37% said less than high school, and 22% said a post-secondary certificate[17]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation[18]. The facts here do not name any license or give a training length in months or years.

What drain cleaners do

The work centers on cleaning and repairing septic tanks, sewer lines and drains[19]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as drain technician, septic cleaner and public works technician[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 7.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,900 to 34,400 jobs, a gain of 2,500[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, who made up 3.1% of the occupation in 2025[2][22].

About 2,800 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings count new jobs and also jobs left by workers who retire or switch to other occupations[6]. Each year, 2.7% of workers leave the labor force and 5% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that can be entered with a high school diploma and no related experience[7]. Pay near the all-occupations median[1][5] comes with a wide spread between the lowest-paid and highest-paid workers[4]. Growth is projected to run above the average for all occupations[2][3]. The work involves hands-on tasks such as digging and operating cleaning equipment[20]. Cost of training, licensing and hours are not covered in the data used here.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a drain cleaner make an hour?
The median was $23.98 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $17.81 and the 90th was $35.33[9].
What education do you need to be a drain cleaner?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
Is drain cleaning in demand?
BLS projects 7.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,800 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for drain cleaners?
Nebraska had the highest median wage at $66,890 a year, followed by New Jersey at $64,650[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners in the US was $49,880 per year and $23.98 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is projected to grow 7.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,900 to 34,400 jobs (a change of +2,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners: 10th percentile $37,040, 25th percentile $43,530, 75th percentile $61,060, 90th percentile $73,490. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 2,800 openings for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners was $53,500 per year and $25.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners: 10th percentile $17.81, 25th percentile $20.93, 75th percentile $29.36, 90th percentile $35.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 30,650 people were employed as Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners jobs: California 3,130; Texas 2,430; Washington 1,600; New York 1,550; Pennsylvania 1,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (areas with at least 100 jobs): Omaha, NE-IA $71,570; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $70,270; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $68,990; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $64,180; Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $63,750; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $63,420; Bellingham, WA $62,940; Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $62,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 860 (median $57,260); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 830 (median $64,180); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 820 (median $52,210); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 600 (median $55,420); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 530 (median $51,250); St. Louis, MO-IL 520 (median $51,940). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 47-4071.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 40%, Less than a High School Diploma 37%, Post-Secondary Certificate 22% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 47-4071.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. 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. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 47-4071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, Public Works Technician, Septic Cleaner, Septic Pump Truck Driver, Septic Tank Service Technician, Service Technician, Sewer Bricklayer. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections: 3.1% of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.