Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Mean (average) | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| 90th percentile | $50,270 | $24.17 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,620 | $23,490 | $41,080 | 25,110 | 0.84 |
| Alaska | $40,510 | $28,380 | $53,480 | 5,200 | 1.12 |
| Arizona | $36,220 | $31,450 | $45,670 | 38,290 | 0.83 |
| Arkansas | $29,750 | $25,110 | $38,120 | 19,490 | 1.05 |
| California | $41,090 | $35,610 | $58,950 | 234,240 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $38,600 | $34,150 | $51,210 | 34,220 | 0.84 |
| Connecticut | $37,960 | $34,150 | $59,690 | 28,740 | 1.19 |
| Delaware | $35,320 | $31,200 | $48,530 | 9,220 | 1.34 |
| District of Columbia | $38,520 | $37,350 | $46,460 | 16,400 | 1.64 |
| Florida | $34,490 | $28,800 | $42,930 | 131,900 | 0.93 |
| Georgia | $34,310 | $26,110 | $44,390 | 55,660 | 0.8 |
| Guam | $22,710 | $21,090 | $30,440 | 720 | 0.76 |
| Hawaii | $37,710 | $29,120 | $51,770 | 11,230 | 1.26 |
| Idaho | $36,110 | $28,390 | $49,000 | 10,800 | 0.89 |
| Illinois | $37,810 | $31,560 | $50,000 | 93,760 | 1.08 |
| Indiana | $36,460 | $28,860 | $46,490 | 49,220 | 1.08 |
| Iowa | $35,380 | $28,490 | $47,300 | 23,960 | 1.08 |
| Kansas | $34,480 | $27,840 | $45,410 | 17,220 | 0.84 |
| Kentucky | $32,320 | $26,110 | $46,730 | 25,750 | 0.91 |
| Louisiana | $28,930 | $21,230 | $39,830 | 27,610 | 1 |
| Maine | $38,940 | $34,530 | $49,360 | 9,180 | 1.01 |
| Maryland | $36,620 | $31,850 | $48,450 | 40,390 | 1.03 |
| Massachusetts | $45,580 | $35,290 | $59,860 | 55,490 | 1.07 |
| Michigan | $36,050 | $29,340 | $46,110 | 65,790 | 1.05 |
| Minnesota | $39,610 | $30,770 | $52,520 | 42,300 | 1.01 |
| Mississippi | $28,380 | $21,490 | $38,180 | 15,940 | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $35,900 | $29,340 | $46,350 | 41,070 | 0.98 |
| Montana | $37,110 | $28,620 | $48,450 | 8,320 | 1.14 |
| Nebraska | $35,900 | $29,920 | $46,120 | 12,860 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $38,420 | $27,370 | $51,430 | 32,830 | 1.49 |
| New Hampshire | $39,150 | $30,060 | $51,280 | 9,420 | 0.97 |
| New Jersey | $37,630 | $32,330 | $50,660 | 67,660 | 1.11 |
| New Mexico | $36,020 | $29,070 | $45,030 | 14,360 | 1.16 |
| New York | $41,640 | $34,540 | $61,830 | 195,250 | 1.42 |
| North Carolina | $34,500 | $25,740 | $42,430 | 53,330 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $37,750 | $30,800 | $50,080 | 6,720 | 1.1 |
| Ohio | $35,900 | $28,460 | $48,460 | 72,540 | 0.92 |
| Oklahoma | $31,110 | $23,120 | $40,860 | 23,620 | 0.97 |
| Oregon | $39,340 | $33,570 | $55,000 | 25,890 | 0.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,520 | $28,060 | $48,240 | 86,920 | 1.01 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,890 | $21,840 | $36,800 | 29,030 | 2.18 |
| Rhode Island | $37,310 | $31,430 | $51,050 | 7,270 | 1.02 |
| South Carolina | $31,180 | $23,470 | $41,700 | 30,100 | 0.92 |
| South Dakota | $35,480 | $28,970 | $44,740 | 8,630 | 1.33 |
| Tennessee | $33,440 | $26,720 | $45,690 | 38,120 | 0.82 |
| Texas | $33,010 | $23,450 | $45,950 | 184,840 | 0.92 |
| Utah | $32,200 | $25,170 | $46,840 | 24,710 | 1 |
| Vermont | $40,910 | $33,310 | $52,000 | 5,130 | 1.19 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,000 | $23,590 | $36,850 | 680 | 1.49 |
| Virginia | $35,170 | $28,290 | $47,240 | 65,970 | 1.13 |
| Washington | $45,520 | $37,070 | $61,520 | 47,380 | 0.94 |
| West Virginia | $30,980 | $23,400 | $44,700 | 9,340 | 0.94 |
| Wisconsin | $37,000 | $29,600 | $47,580 | 45,640 | 1.09 |
| Wyoming | $36,050 | $28,910 | $46,300 | 4,760 | 1.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 321,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 4.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Service, clean, or supply restrooms.
- Gather and empty trash.
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming.
- Monitor building security and safety by performing tasks such as locking doors after operating hours or checking electrical appliance use to ensure that hazards are not created.
- Notify managers concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems.
- Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment to prevent damage to floors and fixtures.
- Mix water and detergents or acids in containers to prepare cleaning solutions, according to specifications.
- Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, using soapy water or other cleaners, sponges, or squeegees.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Eko
- Squeegee
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Building Custodian, Building Services Technician (Building Services Tech), Building Services Worker, Cleaner, Custodial Worker, Custodian, Facilities Worker, Heavy Duty Custodian, Janitor, School Custodian.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make?
The national median annual wage for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners was $36,840 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $50,270. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners a growing career?
BLS projects employment of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners to change +2.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 321,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($45,580), Washington ($45,520), New York ($41,640). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.