Janitors and Building Cleaners

Summary

What Janitors and Building Cleaners Do About this section

Janitors and building cleaners wash windows and glass.

Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, sanitary, orderly, and in good condition.

Duties

Janitors and building cleaners typically do the following:

• Gather and empty trash
• Sweep, mop, or vacuum building floors
• Clean restrooms and stock them with supplies
• Clean spills and other hazards with appropriate equipment
• Wash windows, walls, and glass
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched frequently
• Order cleaning supplies
• Make minor building repairs
• Notify managers when a building needs major repairs
• Lock doors to secure buildings

Janitors and building cleaners keep office buildings, schools, hospitals, and other places clean, sanitary, and in good condition. Some clean only, while others have a wide range of duties.

In addition to keeping the inside of buildings clean and orderly, some janitors and building cleaners work outdoors. They may do tasks such as mowing lawns, sweeping walkways, and removing snow. Some also monitor the building’s heating and cooling system, ensuring that it functions properly.

Janitors and building cleaners use many tools and types of equipment. Simple cleaning tools may include brooms, mops, and rakes. Other tools include sprayers, floor buffers, and snowblowers.

Some janitors are responsible for repairing minor electrical or plumbing problems, such as leaky faucets.

The following are examples of types of janitors and building cleaners:

Building superintendents are responsible for maintaining residential buildings, such as apartments and condominiums. Although their duties are like those of other janitors, some building superintendents also help collect rent and show vacancies to potential tenants.

Custodians are janitors or cleaning workers who typically maintain institutional facilities, such as schools and hospitals.

For data on workers who maintain private homes or businesses, such as hotels, see maids and housekeeping cleaners.

Work Environment About this section

Janitors and building cleaners usually work indoors, but they may work outdoors on some tasks such as sweeping walkways.

Janitors and building cleaners held about 2.4 million jobs in 2023. The largest employers of janitors and building cleaners were as follows:

Janitors and building cleaners usually work indoors, but they may work outdoors on tasks such as sweeping walkways, mowing lawns, and shoveling snow. They spend most of the day walking, standing, or bending while cleaning. They often move or lift heavy supplies and equipment. As a result, the work may be strenuous on the back, arms, and legs. Some tasks, such as cleaning restrooms and trash areas, are dirty or unpleasant.

Injuries and Illnesses

Janitors and building cleaners sometimes get injured on the job. For example, they may suffer sprains or strains from heavy lifting or pain and soreness from repetitive motion. Workers may receive safety and ergonomics training to help minimize these risks.

Work Schedules

Most janitors and building cleaners work full time, but part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary. Because office buildings are often cleaned while they are empty, many cleaners work evening hours. When there is a need for 24-hour maintenance, such as in hospitals, cleaners work in shifts that may include nights, weekends, or holidays.

How to Become a Janitor or Building Cleaner About this section

Most janitors and building cleaners learn on the job. They use many types of tools and equipment, including snowblowers.

Janitors and building cleaners typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. However, some employers may require or prefer that workers have a high school diploma or equivalent. Most janitors and building cleaners learn on the job.

Education

Janitors and building cleaners typically do not need a formal educational credential to qualify for entry-level jobs. But for some positions, they may need to have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Elective high school courses, such as in industrial arts, may be helpful for occupations involving repair.

Training

Most janitors and building cleaners learn on the job. Beginners typically work with a more experienced janitor, learning how to use and maintain equipment such as vacuums, floor buffers, and other equipment and tools. They also may learn how to repair minor electrical and plumbing problems.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although not required, certification is available through the Building Service Contractors Association International, the ISSA—The International Sanitary Supply Association, and IEHA, a division of ISSA. Certification demonstrates competence and may make applicants more appealing to employers.

Important Qualities

Interpersonal skills. Janitors and building cleaners must interact well other cleaners and the people who live or work in the buildings they service.

Mechanical skills. Janitors and building cleaners need to understand general building operations and should be able to make routine repairs, such as to leaky faucets.

Physical stamina. Janitors and building cleaners spend most of their workday standing to operate cleaning equipment.

Physical strength. Janitors and building cleaners often must lift and move heavy cleaning materials and equipment.

Time-management skills. Janitors and building cleaners must plan and complete tasks in a timely manner.

Pay About this section

The median hourly wage for janitors and building cleaners was $16.84 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12.39, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.18.

In May 2023, the median hourly wages for janitors and building cleaners in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most janitors and building cleaners work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary. Because office buildings are often cleaned while they are empty, many cleaners work evening hours. When there is a need for 24-hour maintenance, such as in hospitals, cleaners work in shifts that may include nights, weekends, or holidays.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of janitors and building cleaners is projected to grow 3 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 350,300 openings for janitors and building cleaners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

The continued need for clean and healthy spaces will support demand for the services that janitors and building cleaners provide. However, this demand will be softened by the prevalence of remote and hybrid work environments in some areas, which may reduce the number of physical office spaces that require regular cleaning and maintenance. In addition, the continued use of hi-tech cleaning methods may limit employment growth for these workers.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about janitors and building cleaners, visit

Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARSCI)

Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI)

IEHA

ISSA-The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association

O*NET

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners