Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in Knoxville, TN is $38,740/year ($18.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $41,849 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month, about 52.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Knoxville
Pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in Knoxville runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,471/month, which is 53.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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 Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $41K | $42K |
| Memphis | $42K | $46K |
| Chattanooga | $38K | $41K |
| 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, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $44K 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 53.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/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 Knoxville?
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 $1,794/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Knoxville?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $39K here vs. $50K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
Knoxville pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $38,740 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,900, and experienced septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners can clear $74,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,764/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 53.2% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $41,849 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.