Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in California is $55,220/year ($26.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $52,026 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 68.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in California?
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 66.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary by metro in California
17 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $69K | +25% | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $67K | +21% | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $61K | +11% | 200 |
| Merced | $61K | +11% | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $59K | +8% | 70 |
| Napa | $59K | +6% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $57K | +3% | 280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $55K | +0% | 600 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $53K | -3% | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $53K | -5% | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $52K | -7% | 380 |
| Modesto | $50K | -9% | 60 |
| Salinas | $49K | -12% | 60 |
| Visalia | $48K | -13% | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $47K | -14% | 340 |
| Fresno | $47K | -15% | 80 |
| Chico | $43K | -22% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 17 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 66.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,393/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 103% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $55K here vs. $50K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
California pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in California?
The median is $55,220 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,890, and experienced septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners can clear $79,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,734/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 66.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary is worth about $52,026 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.