Prevailing Wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Prevailing wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (SOC 47-4071) is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for a Drain Cleaner, Drain Technician, or Septic Tank Service Technician role, DOL assigns four experience levels and the wage floor shifts considerably by city.
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Entry-level workers with limited experience performing routine pumping, cleaning, or drain clearing under close supervision. Typically no specialized credentials required. DOL defines this tier as requiring straightforward, repetitive tasks with minimal independent judgment.
Workers with one to three years of hands-on field experience handling standard septic and sewer service calls with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, reflecting typical journeyman technicians.
Experienced technicians who independently diagnose drain blockages, assess tank conditions, and manage complex service jobs with minimal oversight. Often cross-trained in pipe repair, jetting equipment operation, or CCTV inspection, reflecting broader technical scope.
Senior or lead technicians who train crew members, oversee multi-site service routes, and handle non-routine repairs including underground pipe patching and drain tile replacement. May carry responsibility for compliance, equipment maintenance, or crew safety.
Prevailing Wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for worksite address on your LCA
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners often work across multiple municipal or residential sites daily. DOL requires the LCA to list the primary worksite address, and filing the wrong county can set the prevailing wage below or above the correct local floor.
Understand why Washington metros pay significantly more
Metro areas in Washington state consistently post the highest prevailing wage floors for this occupation. If you receive an offer in Seattle, Bellingham, or Mount Vernon, expect the L1 floor to sit well above the national median for entry-level drain technicians.
Confirm base pay excludes tool and vehicle allowances
Employers in this trade often bundle per-diem fuel reimbursements or truck allowances into compensation packages. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only regular cash wages; vehicle and equipment allowances do not satisfy the floor for H-1B or PERM purposes.
Find employers who sponsored this trade on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which wastewater service companies and municipal contractors have actually sponsored Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners before filtering open roles by location and visa type.
Jobs for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-4071.00 alongside Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Drain Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Drain Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Drain Cleaner positions fall under SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Drain Technician Prevailing Wage
Drain Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drain Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Public Works Technician Prevailing Wage
Public Works Technician Prevailing Wage
Public Works Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Septic Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Septic Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Septic Cleaner positions fall under SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Septic Pump Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Septic Pump Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Septic Pump Truck Driver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Septic Tank Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Septic Tank Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Septic Tank Service Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician positions fall under SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Sewer Bricklayer Prevailing Wage
Sewer Bricklayer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sewer Bricklayer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4071.00 (Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners?
DOL's Office of Foreign Labor Certification uses Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected from employers across defined metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 47-4071, OFLC maps each job offer to a local wage area and assigns one of four wage levels based on the worker's experience, supervision, and complexity of duties. Employers cite this figure on the Labor Condition Application filed with OFLC before sponsoring a worker.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers performing routine tasks under close supervision. Level 2 reflects a qualified technician working standard jobs with moderate oversight, and it is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced workers handling complex drain and tank issues independently. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with supervisory or training responsibilities. The level on your LCA should match your actual duties and experience, not your job title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much between cities?
OFLC assigns each sponsored position to the metropolitan statistical area where work actually takes place, then applies the local OES wage survey for that area. Regional labor costs, union density, cost of living, and employer concentration all drive differences in the underlying BLS survey data. A drain technician role in Seattle sits in a high-wage labor market with stronger survey results, while the same role in McAllen or Little Rock reflects lower regional pay norms. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters.
What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA certified by OFLC legally commits the employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for the duration of the worker's authorized period. If the offered salary is below that floor, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence or deny the petition outright. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL can audit or reject the application. The employer bears the compliance obligation, but a shortfall affects your petition and your status, so confirming the offer clears the floor before your employer files is important.
How do I verify the prevailing wage for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current prevailing wage by SOC code (47-4071) and geographic area. Select the metropolitan statistical area matching your worksite, choose the appropriate wage level, and confirm the annual figure against your offer letter. O*NET lists alternate titles for this occupation that can help you confirm your employer is filing under the correct SOC code. Migrate Mate can show you which employers have sponsored this occupation historically, giving you a starting point for your job search.
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