Wastewater Maintenance Worker

Salary: $28.85 - $33.42 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Job Number: 26-00239
Department: Planning and Public Works
Division: PPW WWTP Operations
Opening Date: 03/11/2026
Closing Date: 3/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Summary

Why It's a great opportunity: Start a great career with Pierce County as a Wastewater Maintenance Worker performing various maintenance functions across Pierce County. Some of those tasks include flagging, building maintenance, painting, cleaning, landscaping, inventory management, construction work around manholes, concrete work, bagging fertilizer, and driving a forklift. You and your teams work will ensure that Pierce County has reliable wastewater services for all.

Why It's a great department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW's team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community. The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Works at

How to be successful in the role: We are looking for people who show up on time, care about the quality of the work you do, have an eye for detail, like to learn, and grow their skills. This is a physical job in all kinds of weather, so it takes strength and commitment to be successful. This position requires daily driving of a Pierce County vehicle therefore a safe driving record is a must.

Your future in this role: Pierce County cares about your career and personal development. After your six-month probationary period is over you will be enrolled in a commercial driving school to get your class A CDL license with Tanker endorsement paid for by the County. You will also become a certified flagger, be trained in First Aid/CPR, and have your forklift certification.

You will rotate throughout various locations in the County working and learning at various work sites. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career.

Core daily responsibilities:

• Assist employees of higher classification in the repair and maintenance of sewer lines and pump stations.

• Under supervision, operate heavy and specialized equipment.

• Operate T.V. inspection van to visually locate problem areas in sewer lines.

• Work with chemical grouting equipment.

• Perform septic tank cleaning, flushing and related duties to maintain drains, sewers, and culverts; remove debris and other refuse from clogged sewer lines and drains, using specialized equipment.

• Control traffic at work sites by setting up warning signs and flagging to guide traffic through work areas.

• Install, replace or repair sewer lines.

• Perform routine pump station inspections, making repairs.

• Assist in treatment plant cleaning by hosing roto-strainers, weirs, clarifiers, digesters, dumpster areas and walkways.

• Perform routine facility maintenance duties to include but not limited to emergency cleanup requirements, hanging bulletin boards, and replacing light bulbs, lamps and lenses.

• Perform duties related to working in the Fertilizer Manufacturing Facility (Sound

GRO) including bagging, loading pallets, maintaining inventory, maintain appropriate documentation, operating forklifts, and assisting Sound

GRO customers with loading of fertilizer products.

• Maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance during regularly scheduled work hours at assigned worksite. Must be able to travel to assigned work locations.
Minimum Qualifications

• Two years' experience in wastewater, construction or equipment operation.

• Additional education or training may substitute for the recruitment requirement.
Special requirement:

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Washington State Driver's license with Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class "A"(Tank Vehicle) endorsement within the first twelve months of employment.

• All employees in…