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Salary comparison

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners out-earn Construction Laborers by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners land at $49,880 and Construction Laborers at $47,120. The education gap is real: septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners is Nebraska ($66,890); for Construction Laborers it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$49,880
$47,120
Hourly rate
$23.98/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,040
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$73,490
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
30,650
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
7.6%
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Nebraska
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners median pay.

State
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Construction Laborers
New Jersey
$64,650
$64,060
Washington
$63,090
$57,720
Minnesota
$62,190
$60,260
Connecticut
$60,700
$58,290
Oregon
$57,920
$50,860
Alaska
$57,720
$58,060
Wisconsin
$57,340
$56,100
California
$55,220
$60,270
New York
$55,220
$55,930
Hawaii
$54,530
$77,110
Illinois
$53,190
$60,690
Massachusetts
$53,080
$63,390
Missouri
$51,560
$56,730
Ohio
$50,750
$56,080
Indiana
$48,380
$50,070

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners or Construction Laborers?

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners earn more nationally. The median is $49,880 for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners versus $47,120 for Construction Laborers, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners or Construction Laborers?

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners has the better 10-year outlook at 7.6% projected growth, compared to 7.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners or Construction Laborers?

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners get paid the most?

Nebraska is the top-paying state for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners at $66,890/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners earn $64,650 vs. $64,060 for Construction Laborers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborers by take-home payExplore →How to become a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleanersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →