Drain technician
Also known as: storm water drain technician, sewer and drain inspector, environmental technician, drainage, drain cleaner, drainage system technician, sewer line repairer
About this occupation
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.
Essential skills and knowledge
- types of pipelines
- install plumbing systems
- test pipeline infrastructure operations
- apply health and safety standards
- detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure
- adjust cylinder valves
- liaise with engineers
- ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures
- assemble manufactured pipeline parts
- read standard blueprints
- install drainage well systems
- lay pipe installation
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (O*NET 47-4071.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
- Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
- Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
- Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high-velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
- Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
- Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting
US median pay: US$49,880 a year (2025), 30,650 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.4)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Pipelayers
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Construction Laborers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.