How much does a sewer worker make?
Answer: A typical sewer worker in the United States makes $49,880 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 31,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Sewer worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,040 | $49,880 | $73,490 | about 31,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $63,090 | about 2,000 |
| Iowa | $57,980 | about 630 |
| Oregon | $57,920 | about 560 |
| Wisconsin | $57,340 | about 1,000 |
| California | $55,220 | about 3,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, useful skills or credentials, and harder or more responsible tasks can affect pay. The employer or industry and the work location matter too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a sewer worker do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
A sewer worker may use cleaning equipment and powerful water jets to clear sewer lines, clean septic tanks, and find damaged pipes with special tools. They also make minor equipment repairs and record the work.
How to get this job
In the United States, many jobs usually ask for a high school diploma or GED, followed by on-the-job training that can last from a few days to a year. Requirements vary by employer, and some jobs need less schooling.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some sewer workers use high-velocity water jets and vacuum machines to clean pipes—not just a plunger!
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/47-4071.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-4071.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/tank_servicer_sewer_pipe_clean
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY