Drain Cleaning Sewer Sales

AT A GLANCE

$39,730- $128,820

High School Diploma

Commission-Driven

National pay range for services sales reps, closest matching BLS category

Typical entry-level education required

Most pay includes a commission structure tied to performance

People-First

No Trade License Required

Emotionally Sensitive Work

Most of your day is spent talking with homeowners, not behind a desk

Unlike technicians, this role doesn't require a technical license to start

A sewer repair often follows a stressful, messy situation

THE REAL TIMELINE

The Path

Closing a sewer repair sale takes trust, and trust takes reps. Here's how the income and skill typically build, stage by stage.

New Advisor (Year 1)

Established Advisor

Top Performer / Sales Lead

You're learning sewer repair options, camera inspection results, and how to read what a homeowner actually needs. Pay is often a base plus commission while you build your pipeline.

You've built a track record, referrals start coming in, and your close rate climbs. Median annual wage for services sales representatives: $66,260. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.

Consistent top producers often move into training other advisors or sales management. Top 10 percent of earners make more than $128,820 a year. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.

The Real Work

Sewer sales works differently from most trade sales roles, since the homeowner is often already in a genuine crisis by the time you arrive.

• Review camera inspection footage with homeowners to explain the real problem clearly

• Present repair options like trenchless lining, spot repair, or full replacement

• Build accurate proposals and pricing right there during the appointment

• Address the stress and confusion that often comes with a sudden sewer emergency

• Follow up on estimates without pressuring someone still processing a bad situation

• Coordinate with technicians and schedulers to hand off a closed sale smoothly

Know Yourself

The advisors who thrive in sewer sales bring genuine empathy to a role that's about more than closing a deal.

• Empathetic, homeowners are often stressed when they need this specific service

• A natural listener, understanding the real concern behind the questions being asked

• Comfortable with a commission-based income, some weeks run better than others

• Confident explaining technical repair options without sounding like a salesperson

• Organized, tracking multiple leads and follow-ups without letting one slip

• Trustworthy, homeowners are making a big decision based largely on your guidance

A Real Workday

What does sewer sales actually look like day to day? Here's a real look.

Camera inspection footage from earlier in the week gets reviewed first, preparing a clear explanation of the damage before this morning's appointment with the homeowner. Is trenchless sewer repair worth the extra cost over a traditional dig? It often is, avoiding a torn-up yard and landscaping repair frequently offsets the price difference, and that's exactly the kind of comparison a good advisor walks through honestly. The first stop is a family whose backup flooded part of their basement, and most of the visit goes to walking them through options while they're still visibly rattled. Midday brings a follow-up with a lead who's still deciding, answering the real questions about cost and timeline that are actually holding them back. By afternoon, a repair closes and gets handed off to the crew, or an appointment ends with nothing and the next one starts anyway. Some days you close every appointment. Others you close none. Either way, you clock out knowing you helped someone through a genuinely stressful situation today.

The Gear

This is what you'll actually be using day to day, less wrench, more tablet.

Tablet or Laptop

CRM Software

Camera Footage Review Tools

Builds and presents proposals on the spot.

Tracks every lead, appointment, and follow-up.

Shows homeowners the exact problem.

Financing Platform Access

Product Comparison Materials

Company Vehicle

Runs financing options in real time.

Shows repair options side by side.

Gets you to appointments across your territory.

Get Started

Here's where to actually begin.

No License Required to Start

Learn Sewer Repair Basics

Explore Testing & Certs

Most shops train advisors on the job.

Understanding the repair options makes you a far more credible advisor.

See every certification path Advancing the Trades offers.

Common Questions

Do I need sales experience to start?

Is the pay really commission-based?

Not always, many shops hire for empathy and communication skills and train the process.

Often a mix of base plus commission, structures vary by company.

Do I need to understand pipe repair in depth?

Can this lead into other roles?

Not like a technician does, but the more you know, the more credible you'll be.

Yes, strong performers often move into training or leading a sales team.

Keep Exploring

Ready to Start

Explore certifications and every career this trade offers.

Pay figures on this page are national averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other public sources. Actual pay varies by state, city, employer, and experience, so use these numbers as a starting point, not a guarantee, and research wages in your specific area before making a decision.