Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Construction and Extraction Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 47-4071.00
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.10
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 21 hidden tasks22 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (9.1%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.47-4071.00 | 0.0026100.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.O*NET Task ID 11603 | 1.0 |
Update sewer maps and manhole charts.O*NET Task ID 11622 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (22)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment. | Core |
| Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones. | Core |
| Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work. | Core |
| Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls. | Core |
| Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging. | Core |
| Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes. | Core |
| Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins. | Core |
| Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments. | Core |
| Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages. | Core |
| Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels. | Core |
| Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins. | Supplemental |
| Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines. | Supplemental |
| Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned. | Supplemental |
| Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes. | Supplemental |
| Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves. | Supplemental |
| Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels. | Supplemental |
| Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers. | Supplemental |
| Requisition or order tools and equipment. | Supplemental |
| Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins. | Supplemental |
| Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages. | Supplemental |
| Tap mainline sewers to install sewer saddles. | Supplemental |
| Update sewer maps and manhole charts. | Supplemental |
0.76/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins. | E0 none |
| Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments. | E0 none |
| Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels. | E0 none |
| Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages. | E0 none |
| Tap mainline sewers to install sewer saddles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 32K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 34K
- Change (2025–35)
- +7.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $49,880
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79911 | 배관 세정원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 79919 | 그 외 세정원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 9129Other Cleaning Workers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group includes cleaning workers not classified elsewhere. The group includes, for instance, those who clean surfaces, materials and objects, such as carpets, walls, swimming pools and cooling towers, using specialized cleaning equipment and chemicals.
Tasks
- In such instances tasks would include -
- (a) cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture using cleaning machines and their attachments;.
- (b) selecting and applying cleaning agents to remove stains from carpets;
- (c) treating carpets with soil-repellent chemicals and deodorants, and treating for pests;
- (d) cleaning stone walls, metal surfaces and fascias using high pressure water cleaners and solvents;.
- (e) applying chemicals and high-pressure cleaning methods to remove micro-organisms from water and filtration systems;
- (f) using wet vacuums and other suction equipment to remove scale, accumulated dirt and other deposits from swimming pools, cooling tower components and drains.
Example occupations
Carpet cleaner · Cooling tower cleaner · Graffiti cleaner · Swimming pool cleaner · Water blaster
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- septic tank servicerESCO 7126.9This occupation is broader
Septic tank servicers clean and maintain septic systems. They repair damages and faults, and ensure the tanks are cleaned and maintained, operating cleaning and maintenance machinery, in compliance with safety procedures.
- sewerage cleanerESCO 9129.2This occupation is broader
Sewerage cleaners maintain and clean sewerage systems and their pipes within communities. They remove blockages that stop the sewerage flow to ensure the smooth running of the systems.
- drain technicianESCO 7126.2Overlapping, not the same
Drain technicians install and maintain drainage equipment used in sewer systems, such as pipes and valves. They analyse the design and ensure the proper installation of the drainage system, and perform maintenance and repair duties.
- drainage workerESCO 9312.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Drainage workers assemble and maintain drainage and dewatering systems. They lay tubes or drainpipes to dry out the ground of a certain structure in order to put a hold to imminent groundwater. This work is usually performed under pavements and in basements.
- sewer construction workerESCO 7126.11Overlapping, not the same
Sewer construction workers install sewer pipes to transport wastewater out of structures and to a body of water or treatment facility. They dig trenches and insert the pipes, making sure they have correct angle and are connected watertigh. Sewer construction workers also construct other elements of sewage infrastructure, such as manholes, and maintain and repair existing systems.
- sewerage maintenance technicianESCO 3112.1.12Overlapping, not the same
Sewerage maintenance technicians inspect sewers and pipeline systems. They do this by using moving video cameras, whose recordings tell them whether they need to perform any maintenance and repair on these types of systems.
- sewerage network operativeESCO 7126.10Overlapping, not the same
Sewerage network operatives maintain sewerage systems which remove and transport wastewater and sewerage. They inspect pipes, pumping stations, and mains, looking for leaks or other faults, and repair any problems. They clear blockages, and perform maintenance duties, using network maps and specialised software.
- water network operativeESCO 7126.14Overlapping, not the same
Water network operatives maintain pipes and pumping stations used for water supply, waste water removal and sewerage. They perform planned maintenance and repair tasks and clear blockages in pipes and drains.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| K2301 | Agent / Agente d'exploitation des réseaux d'assainissement | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| K2321 | Egoutier / Egoutière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| F1705 | Poseur / Poseuse de canalisations | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7223 | Instaladores de conductos en obra pública | Related, not a match |
| 9229 | Otro personal de limpieza | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 34312 | Berufe in der Wasserversorgungs- und Abwassertechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 54142 | Berufe in der Maschinen- und Anlagenreinigung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 714 | ごみ・し尿処理従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 719 | その他の清掃従事者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources