### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Janitors and Building Cleaners Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			janitors and building cleaners imageJanitors need physical stamina because they spend much of their time on their feet.							
						Quick Facts:     Janitors and Building Cleaners2023     Median Pay
            						$35,020     per year
										$16.84     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    No formal educational credentialWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    2,382,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    1% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    29,900What Janitors and Building Cleaners Do
                                                
                        
                        
Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, sanitary, orderly, and in good condition.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Janitors and building cleaners usually work indoors, but they may also work outdoors on tasks such as sweeping walkways or removing snow. Most janitors and building cleaners work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary to include evenings, nights, or weekends.
            
                                                How to Become a Janitor or Building Cleaner
                                                
                        
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.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for janitors and building cleaners was $16.84 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of janitors and building cleaners is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 336,700 openings for janitors and building cleaners are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for janitors and building cleaners.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of janitors and building cleaners with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about janitors and building cleaners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Janitors and Building Cleaners Do 
            

			Janitors and building cleanersJanitors 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 buildingsJanitors 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
			Janitors and building cleanersJanitors 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 2022. The largest employers of janitors and building cleaners were as follows:
        Services to buildings and dwellings
                35%Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
                13Healthcare and social assistance
                7Self-employed workers
                5Government
                5Janitors 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

			Janitors and building cleanersMost 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

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Janitors and Building CleanersMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners$16.84   Building cleaning and pest control workers$16.72Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
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:	
        Government
                $19.77Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
                17.64Healthcare and social assistance
                17.17Services to buildings and dwellings
                16.07Most 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

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Janitors and Building CleanersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners1%  Building cleaning and pest control workers1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of janitors and building cleaners is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 336,700 openings for janitors and building cleaners are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most 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 offset by the increase in remote and hybrid work environments, which will reduce the number of physical office spaces that require regular cleanings and maintenance. In addition, the continued use of hi-tech cleaning methods may limit employment growth for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     janitors and building cleaners, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners**
			37-2011
			2,382,900
			2,412,800
			1
			29,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **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 OES 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.com. 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.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of janitors and building cleaners. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Grounds Maintenance Workers**
            Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.
            See How to Become One
            $37,690**Pest Control Workers**
            Pest control workers remove insects, rodents, and other pests that infest buildings and surrounding areas.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $43,470
 Contacts for More Information
								
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
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Janitors and Building Cleaners, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/janitors-and-building-cleaners.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
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