Cities indexed
4
Hourly range, avg
$57–$95/hr
National median
$76/hr
Septic rates are indexed across 4 cities in 4 states, with hourly rates spanning $44.52/hr (Columbus, OH) to $132.88/hr (San Jose, CA). The national median is $76/hr across all indexed cities.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, adjusted for local cost of living. Read the methodology.
The national median rate is $76/hr across 4 indexed cities, with hourly ranges spanning $57/hr at the affordable end to $95/hr at the premium end. Rates vary based on local BLS OEWS wage data and cost of living.
San Jose, California sits at the top of the index for septic services with rates of $79.73–$132.88/hr. High-cost coastal metros consistently command the highest rates.
Columbus, Ohio has the lowest typical septic rates at $44.52–$74.2/hr. Lower cost of living and wage levels in this metro flow through to consumer prices.
Consumer rates track local wage data and cost of living. The same service in a high-cost coastal metro can cost 2–3× what it costs in a lower-cost inland city. The full geographic precision note explains how MSA-level data is applied per city.
Consumer-facing rates. We apply industry-standard 1.5–2.5× multipliers to BLS hourly wages to account for business overhead, insurance, licensing, employer costs, and profit margin. The full calculation is documented in the wage-to-price methodology.
Pricing reflects the BLS OEWS May 2024 release. The next refresh lands when May 2025 data is published in April 2026. Cadence is documented in the update schedule.
Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 · Methodology · Last refreshed January 2026