Occupation Details
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.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$33,490.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$45,270.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$54,990.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,180
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
1,590
+41 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
200
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.4%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Quick Start - High school or less
Experience Requirements
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Education Requirements
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Air hammers
- Air tampers
- Bucket machines
- Caulk dispensing tools
- Claw hammers
- Dirt shovels
- End pipe wrenches
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- High velocity water jetters
- Liquid pumps
- Material pumping hoses
- Measuring tapes
- Mobile radios
- Mobile tracked excavators
- Personal computers
- Pipe cutters
- Portable concrete mixers
- Portable drills
- Power rodders
- Power screeds
- Power trowels
- Prying bars
- Septic pumping trucks
- Sewer cleaning rods
Technology
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Route mapping software
- Web browser software
- Word processing software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- measure and mark lay out for construction projects
- requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
- adhere to safety procedures
- perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
- repair or replace gas, steam, sewer, or water piping or fixtures
- use hazardous materials information
- use hazardous disposal techniques
- follow safe waste disposal procedures
- use building or land use regulations
- operate cleaning equipment
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use hand or power tools
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use pipe fitting equipment
- operate pneumatic tamper to patch pavement or tamp earth
- operate jackhammer
- inspect sewer, drain, or water main pipe joints to verify alignment or fit
- assemble and install pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- maintain repair records
- build or repair structures in construction, repair, or manufacturing setting
- lay or install brick, block, stone, tile, or related masonry material
- move or fit heavy objects
- clean rooms or work areas
- dig holes or trenches for foundations, posts, poles, or related items
- read blueprints
- read maps
- read specifications
- read tape measure
- read technical drawings
- drive automobile, van, or light truck
- transport passengers or cargo
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
- Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins.
- Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins.
- Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
- Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
- Update sewer maps and manhole charts.
- Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
- Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
- Requisition or order tools and equipment.
- Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels.
- Tap mainline sewers to install sewer saddles.