Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
The short answer
This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 208 openings expected each year.
Where your job stands
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.
How much AI could touch this job
Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.
What this means
Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.
What AI can and can’t help with in this job
This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.
AI can help with or automate about 9% of the tasks in this job.
Tasks AI can help with or automate
Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
AI could do much of this on its own
Update sewer maps and manhole charts.
AI could help, but needs extra software
Tasks AI can't do much of
Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
AI is unlikely to speed this up
Jobs you could switch to
If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.
See related jobs in
The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Very similar workslightly less pay351 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$53,409 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Manual Dexterity
- Oral Comprehension
- Trunk Strength
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
Pipelayers
Very similar work+27% pay26 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 27% more—$72,282 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Oral Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Mechanical
- Trunk Strength
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Installation
Highway Maintenance Workers
Very similar workslightly less pay1,525 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays slightly less—$56,706 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Oral Comprehension
- Operation and Control
New skills to build
- Public Safety and Security
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Very similar work+40% pay3,557 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 40% more—$79,594 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus apprenticeship.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- Oral Comprehension
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Problem Sensitivity
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Design
- Installation
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
Construction Laborers
Very similar work+1% pay6,031 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 1% more—$57,446 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Manual Dexterity
- Oral Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Trunk Strength
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
- Static Strength
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Very similar work+14% pay381 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 14% more—$64,460 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Reaction Time
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
New skills to build
- Building and Construction
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Similar work+47% pay1,580 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 47% more—$83,178 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Control Precision
- Operation and Control
- Reaction Time
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Depth Perception
- Multilimb Coordination
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Similar work+32% pay401 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 32% more—$75,073 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Customer and Personal Service
- Control Precision
- Transportation
- Mechanical
- Oral Comprehension
New skills to build
- Public Safety and Security
- Problem Sensitivity
- Category Flexibility
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Somewhat similar work+5% pay113 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 5% more—$59,699 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of experience, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.
Skills you already have
- Control Precision
- Mechanical
- Manual Dexterity
- Operation and Control
- Reaction Time
New skills to build
- Multilimb Coordination
- Peripheral Vision
- Response Orientation
- Depth Perception
- Rate Control
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Somewhat similar work+20% pay431 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job nowPays about 20% more—$68,183 vs your $56,717 here.
What the move takes
Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.
Getting ready typically takes one to two years.
Skills you already have
- Mechanical
- Control Precision
- Manual Dexterity
- Operation and Control
- Reaction Time
New skills to build
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Extent Flexibility
- Equipment Selection