Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $37,560/year ($18.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $41,067 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 51.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in Chattanooga runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,390/month, which is 51.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleanerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $41K | $42K |
| Knoxville | $39K | $42K |
| Memphis | $42K | $46K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $46K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $67K | +34% | 300 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +30% | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | +29% | 310 |
| Washington | $63K | +26% | 1,600 |
| Minnesota | $62K | +25% | 240 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +22% | 280 |
| Nevada | $60K | +21% | 220 |
| Iowa | $58K | +16% | 630 |
| Oregon | $58K | +16% | 560 |
| Alaska | $58K | +16% | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | +15% | 1,050 |
| Montana | $57K | +14% | 290 |
| Maryland | $56K | +13% | 160 |
| New York | $55K | +11% | 1,550 |
| California | $55K | +11% | 3,130 |
| Hawaii | $55K | +9% | 80 |
| Illinois | $53K | +7% | 1,210 |
| Massachusetts | $53K | +6% | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | +4% | 1,530 |
| Georgia | $52K | +4% | 590 |
| Colorado | $52K | +4% | 500 |
| Missouri | $52K | +3% | 1,160 |
| Ohio | $51K | +2% | 1,000 |
| Michigan | $50K | +0% | 1,080 |
| Utah | $50K | -0% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -2% | 500 |
| Maine | $49K | -3% | 160 |
| Delaware | $48K | -3% | 30 |
| Indiana | $48K | -3% | 770 |
| Arizona | $48K | -4% | 590 |
| Wyoming | $48K | -5% | 90 |
| Alabama | $47K | -5% | 400 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -5% | 1,020 |
| Virginia | $47K | -5% | 890 |
| Kansas | $47K | -6% | 150 |
| Idaho | $47K | -6% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -6% | 640 |
| North Dakota | $46K | -7% | 70 |
| Florida | $46K | -7% | 1,330 |
| Vermont | $46K | -7% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -12% | 280 |
| Texas | $44K | -12% | 2,430 |
| Oklahoma | $41K | -18% | 670 |
| New Mexico | $40K | -19% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $40K | -20% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $39K | -21% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -22% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -23% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $36K | -27% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 51.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,787/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 78% 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 Chattanooga?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $38K here vs. $50K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
Chattanooga pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $37,560 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,780, and experienced septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners can clear $63,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,685/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 51.8% 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 Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary is worth about $41,067 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.