As of June 2026, Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners has an AI-exposure score of 41/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
More exposed than 12% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$49,880. About 2,900 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Construction roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (80%).
- Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
- Update sewer maps and manhole charts.
- Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
- Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins.
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes.
- Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
- Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
- Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins.
- Requisition or order tools and equipment.
- Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
- Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
- Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.
- Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
- Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
Safer adjacent roles
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