Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Salary in California
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in California earned a median of $55,220 a year ($26.55 an hour) and a mean of $57,610 in May 2025. The median is 10.7% above the U.S. median of $49,880, ranking 14th of 49 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $55,220
- Median hourly
- $26.55
- Mean annual
- $57,610
- Jobs on record
- 3,130
Grey needle: U.S. median, $49,880 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does California compare on pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
California ranks 14th of 49 states. Nebraska is highest at $66,890, $11,670 more than the California median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 12 | $56,860 | +14% | 290 |
| Maryland | 13 | $56,410 | +13% | 160 |
| California | 14 | $55,220 | +11% | 3,130 |
| New York | 14 | $55,220 | +11% | 1,550 |
| Hawaii | 16 | $54,530 | +9% | 80 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 49 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does California pay go further after prices?
Prices in California run 10.7% above the U.S. average, so the $55,220 median buys about what $49,874 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $49,880 U.S. median. On this measure California ranks 32nd of 49, down from 14th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in California pay septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is highest at $68,990, 24.9% above the California median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,990 | 350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66,870 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $61,200 | 200 |
| Merced, CA | $61,150 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $59,400 | 70 |
| Napa, CA | $58,720 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $56,940 | 280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55,420 | 600 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $53,440 | 30 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $53,440 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $53,430 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $52,510 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $51,630 | 380 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,040 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,770 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $47,840 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,300 | 340 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,700 | 80 |
| Chico, CA | $43,120 | 40 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in California is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners work in California?
BLS counts 3,130 jobs in California, 10.2% of the 30,650 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 48 states with a published figure. That is 0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in California, a location quotient of 0.87: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.87 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the California minimum wage compare with pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in California was $19.18 in May 2025, $2.28 above the $16.90 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in California
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.