Median Annual Wage: $34,810
Education: Less than high school diploma (46%); High school diploma or equivalent (37%); Post-secondary certificate (16%)
Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)
Related Job Titles: Utility Worker; Service Technician; Septic Pump Truck Driver; Sewer and Drain Technician; Drain Cleaner; Public Works Technician; Sewer and Drain Cleaner; Maintenance Worker; Septic Cleaner
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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.
More Construction and Extraction Careers
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins.
- Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
- Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
- Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
- Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
- Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- 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.
- Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.