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What is a sewer cleaner and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a sewer cleaner. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.43 an hour? That's $32,099 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 85,500 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSewer CleanerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,099

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.23%

Asian 2.22%

Black or African American 14.52%

Hispanic or Latino 19.45%

Unknown 6.81%

White 55.77%

Gender

female 11.76%

male 88.24%

Age - 33
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 33
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a sewer cleaner

  1. Explore sewer cleaner education requirements

    Most common sewer cleaner degrees

    High School Diploma

    58.3 %

    Master's

    8.3 %

    Certificate

    8.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific sewer cleaner skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Manholes100.00%
  3. Complete relevant sewer cleaner training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sewer cleaners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sewer cleaner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sewer cleaner resumes.
  4. Research sewer cleaner duties and responsibilities

    • Clean and fix sewer lines, septic tanks, or various structures like culverts, manholes, and catch basins.
    • Execute commercial building following safety awareness to maintain cleanliness and neatness of working area and premises.
    • Verify availability or monitor use of safety equipment, such as hearing protection or respirators.
  5. Apply for sewer cleaner jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a sewer cleaner job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first sewer cleaner job

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Average sewer cleaner salary

The average sewer cleaner salary in the United States is $32,099 per year or $15 per hour. Sewer cleaner salaries range between $24,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average sewer cleaner salary
$32,099 Yearly
$15.43 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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