- Septic tank pumping usually costs $290 to $600, about $400 typical.
- Pumping out a household septic tank.
What septic tank pumping costs
Most homeowners pay $290 to $600 for septic tank pumping, and $400 is a typical price. Pumping out a household septic tank.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Low end | $290 |
| Typical | $400 |
| High end | $600 |
The range blends Fixr, HomeAdvisor and Today's Homeowner (method below). Where you live matters: Koira's estimate is $345 in Arkansas and $492 in Hawaii.
What drives the price
- Tank size. HomeAdvisor says a small 600-gallon tank may be $250, and a 2,000-gallon tank $700 or more.
- Access. Buried lids that have to be dug up add time. Risers make it quicker next time.
- How long since the last pump. Overdue tanks with heavy sludge take longer.
Extra costs to plan for
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Septic inspection | $250 to $1,175 | HomeAdvisor |
These often show up as separate lines. When you compare septic tank pumping quotes, line them up item by item.
Septic tank pumping cost by state
Koira estimates for each state, built from the national $290 to $600. About 60% of a septic tank pumping price is labor, and only that part is scaled by the state's median wage for construction and extraction workers. A starting point, not a quote.
| State | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $256 | $353 | $529 |
| Alaska | $337 | $465 | $697 |
| Arizona | $286 | $394 | $591 |
| Arkansas | $250 | $345 | $517 |
| California | $325 | $449 | $673 |
| Colorado | $295 | $407 | $610 |
| Connecticut | $325 | $449 | $673 |
| Delaware | $289 | $399 | $599 |
| District of Columbia | $321 | $443 | $664 |
| Florida | $260 | $359 | $538 |
| Georgia | $261 | $361 | $541 |
| Hawaii | $357 | $492 | $738 |
| Idaho | $280 | $386 | $580 |
| Illinois | $351 | $485 | $727 |
| Indiana | $297 | $409 | $614 |
| Iowa | $290 | $400 | $599 |
| Kansas | $277 | $382 | $572 |
| Kentucky | $271 | $374 | $561 |
| Louisiana | $262 | $361 | $542 |
| Maine | $292 | $403 | $605 |
| Maryland | $291 | $401 | $602 |
| Massachusetts | $342 | $472 | $708 |
| Michigan | $295 | $407 | $610 |
| Minnesota | $328 | $453 | $679 |
| Mississippi | $253 | $349 | $523 |
| Missouri | $296 | $409 | $613 |
| Montana | $294 | $406 | $609 |
| Nebraska | $273 | $377 | $565 |
| Nevada | $296 | $409 | $613 |
| New Hampshire | $292 | $402 | $603 |
| New Jersey | $331 | $456 | $684 |
| New Mexico | $262 | $361 | $542 |
| New York | $322 | $444 | $666 |
| North Carolina | $260 | $359 | $539 |
| North Dakota | $295 | $407 | $610 |
| Ohio | $298 | $410 | $616 |
| Oklahoma | $258 | $356 | $534 |
| Oregon | $309 | $426 | $640 |
| Pennsylvania | $293 | $404 | $606 |
| Rhode Island | $300 | $414 | $621 |
| South Carolina | $261 | $360 | $540 |
| South Dakota | $262 | $362 | $543 |
| Tennessee | $264 | $364 | $545 |
| Texas | $260 | $358 | $537 |
| Utah | $283 | $390 | $586 |
| Vermont | $291 | $401 | $601 |
| Virginia | $281 | $388 | $581 |
| Washington | $337 | $464 | $696 |
| West Virginia | $284 | $392 | $588 |
| Wisconsin | $302 | $417 | $625 |
| Wyoming | $291 | $401 | $601 |
Rural areas and cities in the same state can differ a lot.
How we got these numbers
| Guide | Range | Average | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixr | $300 to $600 | $400 | Counted |
| HomeAdvisor | $292 to $565 | $428 | Counted |
| Today's Homeowner | $255 to $600 | $400 | Counted |
We take the middle of the guides' lows for the low end, the middle of their highs for the high end, and the middle of their averages for the typical septic tank pumping price. Where a guide gives no average we use its midpoint. All read on October 9, 2026.
Labor share used: 60%. Pumping is a truck, a crew and a disposal fee. Koira's assumption. State factor: the state's median hourly wage for construction and extraction workers over the national $28.63 (BLS, May 2025), kept between 0.7 and 1.4.
For contractors: price this job in Koira
Plumbing calls come in when something is leaking, so a fast answer and a clear price for the fix and the parts matter most.
On Koira's free Office plan you build the estimate, text it, collect the deposit and turn it into an invoice when the septic tank pumping is done. Price this job in Koira, free.
Sources: Fixr, septic tank pumping cost; HomeAdvisor, septic tank pumping cost; Today's Homeowner, septic tank pumping cost; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). Prices checked October 9, 2026. More for your trade: how the trade runs on Koira.