Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in West Virginia is $36,200/year ($17.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $40,660 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 40.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $36K get you in West Virginia?
About septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in West Virginia runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $50K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 40.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 40.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,399/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $36K here vs. $50K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
West Virginia pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners make in West Virginia?
The median is $36,200 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,320, and experienced septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners can clear $43,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,502/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 40.3% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $40,660 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.