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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

Janitor mopping floor This occupational group includes janitors, maids and housekeeping cleaners, pest control, landscaping, pesticide handlers, tree trimmers, and grounds maintenance workers.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, more than basic people skills were required for 9.1 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers. Basic people skills were required for 90.9 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	50.4	49.6
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	65.8	34.2
Working around crowds	0.7	99.3
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	7.8	92.2
Supervisor present in immediate work area	34.0	66.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 23.7 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers and on-the-job training was required for 88.8 percent.

No minimum education was required for 70.0 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 12.1 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers. Another 84.1 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 10 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 24.8 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 75.2 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 97.6 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers and was not required for 2.4 percent. For less than 5 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom required, for 61.9 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was occasionally required, for 33.2 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 96.8 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers and was not required for 3.2 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 2.3 percent of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers. On average, workers spent 11.1 percent of the workday sitting and 88.9 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	2.3	97.7
Driving	34.5	65.5
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	41.7	58.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey