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Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $36,840 Median per year · $17.71/hr Most earn $28,640–$50,270

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Notify managers concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems.
  • Steam-clean or shampoo carpets.
  • Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, using soapy water or other cleaners, sponges, or squeegees.
  • Mow or trim lawns or shrubbery, using mowers or hand or power trimmers, and clear debris from grounds.
  • Mix water and detergents or acids in containers to prepare cleaning solutions, according to specifications.
  • Set up, arrange, or remove decorations, tables, chairs, ladders, or scaffolding to prepare facilities for events, such as banquets or meetings.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 321,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools13.3%
  • Self-employed (their own business)4.8%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals3.7%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools3.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals3.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Janitor is an entry-level job. You can start with a high school diploma, and employers often want about 6 months to 1 year of cleaning or maintenance experience, which many people get in their first cleaning job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic skills like reading, math, and following safety rules, which you'll use every day on the job.

  2. Housekeeping Cleaner

    6 months to 1 year

    Start with cleaning work in homes, offices, or other buildings to learn cleaning methods, equipment, and how to work reliably on a schedule.

  3. Janitor

    Ongoing

    Take on heavier cleaning, routine upkeep, and reporting repairs to management, which is the core of this career.

Where it can lead

  1. Maintenance and Repair Worker, General

    2 to 4 years of experience first

    You move from cleaning toward fixing things, like minor repairs to plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and equipment, and usually need more hands-on training or a certificate.

  2. Building Maintenance Supervisor

    Several years as a janitor or maintenance worker of experience first

    You manage a team of cleaners or maintenance workers, schedule their work, and handle contractors and budgets, so strong communication and leadership skills matter.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, woodworking, or auto classesHands-on classes teach you tools and basic repairs, which helps if you later move toward maintenance work.
  • Get a part-time or summer job cleaning or helping with groundsStarter work builds the 6 months to 1 year of experience that employers often look for.
  • Volunteer to help with school or community cleanupHelping keep shared spaces clean shows reliability and gives you a reference for future jobs.
  • Learn basic safety and chemical handlingKnowing how to use cleaning products safely is a practical skill employers value.

In college

  • Take courses in basic electrical, plumbing, or building maintenanceThese classes help you understand building systems, which is useful for both janitorial and maintenance roles.
  • Work a campus custodial, grounds, or facilities jobMany colleges hire student workers for facilities jobs, which gives you real experience in a building setting.
  • Earn a safety or equipment certification if your school or town offers oneA certificate in workplace safety or equipment operation can make your resume stand out.
  • Build a simple work recordKeep notes on your tasks, schedules, and any supervisor praise so you can show reliability when applying for jobs.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for entry-level cleaning or custodial jobs right after high school. Many employers train on the job, so a willingness to learn matters more than a long resume.
  • Show you're dependable: arrive on time, follow safety and cleaning instructions, and tell a supervisor when something needs repair. Those habits lead to more responsibility.
  • Learn basic handyman skills, like fixing a leaky faucet or replacing a light fixture, if you're interested in moving toward maintenance work.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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