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You want the straight numbers on sewer cleaner pay. The national mean hourly wage sits at $23.84, which translates to roughly $49,590 per year for full-time work. But that’s just the starting point. Your actual earnings depend on where you work, who employs you, and how much experience you bring to the job.
The range stretches from $33,890 at the 10th percentile to $68,700 at the 90th percentile. Location makes a significant difference—local government utility roles pay around $25.25 per hour while private sector jobs often come in lower.
Understanding these wage breakdowns helps you know what to expect and where the best opportunities exist.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Sewer cleaners earn a national mean wage of $23.84 per hour ($49,590 annually), with pay ranging from $33,890 at the 10th percentile to $68,700 at the 90th percentile depending on experience and location.
- Geographic location significantly impacts earnings, with coastal metros like New York and Seattle paying $65,000+ annually while local government utility roles ($25.25/hour) consistently outpay private sector positions.
- Career advancement delivers substantial wage growth—entry-level workers start around $33,520 annually while senior technicians with certifications reach $63,620 to $70,000, with supervisory roles climbing to $80,000-$130,000.
- The field shows strong job security with projected 13% wage growth through 2031 driven by aging infrastructure, stricter environmental regulations, and skilled labor shortages, particularly in states like Idaho where employment is expected to increase 30.1% by 2032.
How Much Do Sewer Cleaners Make?
If you’re looking at a career in sewer cleaning, you’re probably wondering what the paycheck looks like. The numbers vary quite a bit depending on where you work and how much experience you bring to the job.
Let’s break down the hourly rates, annual wages, and what you can expect in bonuses and overtime pay.
Average Hourly and Annual Wages
You’re looking at solid, stable numbers in sewer cleaning work. As of May 2023, the mean hourly rate stood at $23.84, translating to roughly $49,590 annually. Here’s what you need to know about typical earnings:
If you’re setting your own rates, guidelines on pricing sewing services can help you stay competitive while matching your experience level.
- National mean hourly wage reaches $23.84
- Annual pay averages $49,590 for full-time workers
- Median hourly rate sits at $22.56
- Job posting data shows $21.75 per hour in 2025
- Self-reported figures indicate approximately $37,162 yearly
The average sewer cleaner salary can be found on the sewer cleaning salary website for more information.
Salary Ranges and Percentiles
Your earning potential spans a wide salary range in this field. The 10th percentile starts at $33,890 annually, while the 90th percentile reaches $68,700—that’s a 2-to-1 ratio. Most workers land between the 25th percentile ($38,590) and 75th percentile ($57,270). The median sits at $46,910, showing wage disparities that reflect experience and location differences across the industry.
Sewer cleaner salaries span a 2-to-1 range, from $33,890 at the 10th percentile to $68,700 at the 90th, with most earning between $38,590 and $57,270
For more information on water treatment jobs, check the BLS wage data to understand the variations in salaries.
Typical Bonuses and Overtime Pay
Beyond your base hourly rate, you’ll often earn time-and-a-half for hours past 40 each week. Bonus structures reward safety and performance with annual amounts from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Shift differentials and on-call pay incentives compensate irregular schedules. Emergency repairs and maintenance outages create overtime opportunities that boost compensation packages well above mean wage estimates, especially when you factor in percentile wage variations across regions.
Sewer Cleaner Salaries by State and City
Where you work makes a real difference in your paycheck as a sewer cleaner. Some states pay nearly double what others offer, and the gap between big cities and rural areas can be just as striking.
Let’s look at which locations offer the best wages and how your local cost of living factors in.
Highest Paying States and Regions
When you’re comparing state salaries, you’ll find New Jersey leads national estimates with a mean annual wage of $66,940. California follows closely, while Texas offers strong regional wage trends despite lower costs.
Urban salaries in coastal areas—Seattle, San Francisco—push past $65,000, reflecting their geographic profile and location quotient.
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These wage estimates and analysis show clear metro area advantages in location-based salary comparison.
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Major Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
Metro employment lifts your earning power: New York-Newark posts the highest geographic profile for sewer pipe cleaners, while Seattle-Tacoma hits $30.99 hourly. Rural salary averages drop 5 to 15 percent in nonmetro areas—Hill Country Texas leads nonmetropolitan employment.
Urban wage trends show location quotient concentration in Northwest Oklahoma. These occupational employment trends and wage estimates and analysis reveal clear geographic pay differences and nonmetro benefits trade-offs.
Cost of Living and Wage Adjustments
You’ll see geographic pay and urban premiums shift your real income more than raw numbers suggest.
San Francisco sewer cleaners earned $71,200 annually in 2022—but Berkeley’s $25.18 hourly wage reflects cost indexing against housing costs. Regional salaries in Florida averaged $20 hourly, below the national average pay, yet lower cost of living balances that salary range.
Wage inflation and wage advancement depend on where you work, not just your title.
Factors That Affect Sewer Cleaner Pay
Your paycheck as a sewer cleaner depends on more than just showing up to work. Where you work and who you work for can shift your earnings by thousands of dollars each year.
Let’s look at the three biggest factors that determine what you’ll actually take home.
Industry Sectors and Employer Types
Where you work shapes what you earn. Private firms in remediation and waste management employed 15,750 sewer cleaners in 2023, paying $48,220 annually. Government agencies offered higher wages at $52,520.
Industry trends show clear sector differences:
- Utility system construction: $55,940 mean annual wage
- Engineering services: $62,420 top industry pay
- Local government: 6,310 jobs with competitive benefits
- Private remediation: Highest occupational employment levels
Your employer profile directly influences your paycheck.
Experience and Seniority Levels
Your tenure on the job builds your paycheck year after year. Entry-level sewer pipe cleaners start around $33,520 annually, while senior workers reach $63,620—nearly double the base rate. Experience levels drive wage progression through clear percentile jumps.
| Years in Field | Typical Mean Wage |
|---|---|
| 0–2 years | $16–$20/hour |
| 8+ years | $30–$40/hour |
Seniority pay rewards your loyalty. Supervisory roles open career advancement into the $80,000–$130,000 range, proving tenure benefits compound over time in sewer worker salary trends.
Certifications and Specialized Skills
Certifications raise your earning ceiling fast. NASSCO certification for CCTV inspection pushes you above the $24.93 hourly median, while confined space safety training qualifies you for permit-required sewer pipe cleaner roles paying 55% more than baseline septic tank servicer wages.
A CDL for heavy equipment operation delivers $35–$50 per hour in labor market analysis data.
Technical skills in diagnostics and troubleshooting separate $16 helpers from $43 specialists in sewer cleaning careers.
Sewer Cleaner Salary Growth and Outlook
Your earning potential as a sewer cleaner changes dramatically as you gain experience and move up the ladder. The field shows steady growth projections through 2031, with clear financial milestones at different career stages.
Here’s what you can expect regarding salary progression, future trends, and where the job market is headed.
Entry-Level Vs. Senior-Level Earnings
Your earnings potential as a sewer pipe cleaner climbs steadily as you gain experience. Entry-level roles usually pay a median annual salary between $38,000 and $45,000, while senior-level technicians earn $55,000 to $70,000 annually. This career progression reflects real wage disparities tied to responsibility and skill.
- Hourly rates rise from $18–$22 for beginners to $28–$38 for senior staff
- Mean wage growth accelerates with certifications and specialized confined-space skills
- Senior roles often include crew supervision, improving benefits packages and overtime eligibility
- Salary negotiation becomes easier once you’ve proven reliability over 5+ years
Projected Salary Trends Through 2031
Wage forecasting through 2031 shows your annual salary could climb 13% to approximately $82,200 if current growth patterns hold. Economic trends suggest nominal wages may rise 3–4% yearly, keeping you slightly ahead of inflation.
Labor market pressures from retirements and infrastructure spending should push steady increases, especially in states investing heavily in sewer systems. Salary projections favor those who stay in the field long-term.
Job Market Demand and Employment Prospects
Employment estimates show 29,880 septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners nationwide as of 2020, representing 0.02 percent of total U.S. employment. Labor market analysis points to much faster than average growth—Idaho projects 30.1 percent employment increases through 2032.
Aging infrastructure and stricter environmental regulations drive steady occupational employment demand. Industry outlook remains positive despite skilled labor shortages in sewer truck operations.
Sewer Cleaner Pay Compared to Similar Jobs
You might be wondering how sewer cleaner wages stack up against other jobs in the water and waste management field. Comparing pay across similar roles helps you understand where this work fits in the larger industry picture.
Let’s look at how sewer cleaner salaries compare to water treatment operators, construction and utility workers, and other environmental services roles.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Operators
Your counterparts in water and wastewater treatment earn more across the board. The median annual wage hit $58,260 in May 2024.
Here’s how the percentile wage breaks down:
- 25th percentile – $44,720 annually, showing where newer operators start after basic operator training
- Median (50th) – $54,890, reflecting solid experience in treatment processes
- 75th percentile – $67,790, rewarding mastery of environmental regulations and water quality management
Washington state leads with an $80,850 mean wage for these roles.
Construction and Utility Sector Roles
Stepping into construction and utility jobs creates opportunities for stronger pay. In 2020, utility system construction roles paid septic tank servicers a mean wage of $23.05 per hour—above the $20.15 in remediation services. Local government utility roles reached $25.25 hourly in 2023, beating the national mean wage for sewer pipe cleaners.
| Sector | Mean Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Utility System Construction | $23.05 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $21.10 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $20.15 |
| Water/Sewage Systems | $22.71 |
| Local Government Utilities | $25.25 |
Construction roles and utility jobs consistently reward hands-on sewer cleaning work better than private remediation contracts. Wage standards climb when you’re maintaining public infrastructure—the industry outlook favors workers who can handle both pipes and paperwork.
Wage Differences Within Environmental Services
Environmental factors shape how much you earn compared to others scrubbing floors or trimming hedges. Regional disparities and occupational hierarchy create real wage inequality across the board:
- Janitors earn roughly $35,000 annually—$14,000 below your mean wage
- Landscapers pull in $38,000 to $41,000—still trailing sewer work
- Security guards hover near $40,000—under the $49,590 industry standard
Industry variations and location quotient figures reveal wage disparities in Florida and beyond, with percentile wage data proving sewer cleaning commands a premium over routine custodial roles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do sewers make good money?
Sewer pipe cleaners earn a solid mean wage of around $49,590 annually, with job security and income potential reaching $68,700 at the 90th percentile.
This offers financial stability that compares favorably to many manual trades.
How much do NYC sewer cleaners make?
City contracts deliver big paychecks: NYC sewage treatment workers start around $99,461 annually as trainees, with journeyman union wages reaching $155, That’s vastly higher than general sewer cleaning roles averaging $37,525 citywide.
How does a sewer cleaner work?
You operate specialized equipment to clear blockages and maintain sewer systems through drain cleaning and pipe maintenance.
Your work involves waste removal, sewer inspection, and coordinating sewer repair when pipe damage occurs.
What benefits do sewer cleaners receive?
You’ll generally receive health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, life insurance, and disability benefits.
Public sector roles often provide stronger packages than private employers, directly impacting your total compensation beyond base wages.
Are there risks involved in sewer cleaning?
You face toxic exposure, physical hazards, and disease transmission daily in wastewater management.
Safety protocols in environmental services reduce occupational risks, though sewer maintenance remains one of environmental services’ most dangerous jobs.
What is the work schedule like?
Your schedule won’t follow a nine-to-five pattern. Most sewer pipe cleaners work irregular shift patterns covering nights, weekends, and holidays, with on-call requirements for emergencies driving real overtime pay opportunities.
Do sewer cleaners need specific skills?
Yes, you’ll need technical training in equipment operation and safety protocols. Physical demands are significant.
Certification requirements vary by state, but specialized skills in sewer and drainage systems maintenance directly impact your earning potential.
Is there potential for overtime pay?
Like finding gold at the end of a long tunnel, overtime can boost your sewer cleaning salary substantially.
You’ll earn premium pay for standby duty, weekend shifts, and emergency call-outs beyond standard occupational employment hours.
What benefits do sewer cleaners typically receive?
You’ll commonly receive health insurance, retirement plans with employer matching, and paid leave that grows with seniority in many municipal wastewater roles.
Additionally, benefits often include free safety equipment and uniforms, as well as union benefits like cost-of-living adjustments.
How does unionization affect sewer cleaner wages?
Think of unionization as your backstage pass to higher wages. Collective bargaining secures a 40 to 70 percent union wage premium for sewer pipe cleaners compared to nonunion workers, directly reshaping occupational employment standards.
Conclusion
Think of sewer cleaning wages like the infrastructure itself—layered and varied beneath the surface. You’ve seen how much sewer cleaners make: $23.84 per hour on average, with top earners pushing past $68,700 annually.
Location, employer type, and experience create the spread. Your path forward depends on targeting high-paying regions and building certifications.
The numbers don’t lie, and now you know exactly where you stand in this essential trade.
