Across U.S. metros, septic & sewer technicians typically earn $2,660 more a year than maintenance technicians (6%). In the 150 metros where BLS publishes both, maintenance technicians earn more in 74 and septic & sewer technicians in 76.
| Maintenance Technician | Septic & Sewer Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical metro median pay | $48,330 | $50,990 |
| Lowest metro median | $22,040 | $36,350 |
| Highest metro median | $63,980 | $75,010 |
| Job growth 2025–35 (U.S.) | +4.2% | +7.8% |
| Openings per year (U.S.) | 148,700 | 2,800 |
| Self-employed | 1% | 3% |
| Typical education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Typical training | Moderate-term on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Injury rate per 10k workers (U.S.) | 212 | 162 |
| Metros with pay data | 393 | 150 |
On safety, maintenance technicians report more injuries that cause missed work (212 vs. 162 per 10,000 full-time workers, national 2023–24).
Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 (typical = median across metros). Growth, openings, education, training: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Injuries: BLS SOII 2023–24.
Where maintenance technicians out-earn septic & sewer technicians the most Our calculation
Gap in median yearly pay, same metro.
Where septic & sewer technicians out-earn maintenance technicians the most
Gap in median yearly pay, same metro.
What each trade does
Maintenance Technician
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
Septic & Sewer Technician
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.
Compare one trade across two cities →