Sweep, then mop the floor
Sweep, then mop or scrub with floor-matched tools so the finish does not get damaged.
Career profile
Janitor
Janitors keep shared buildings clean, stocked and ready for the next people who walk in.
Enjoy visible, hands-on work? Check the routine closely, since a shift might mean scrubbing halls, resetting a meeting room or catching a leak before closing.
A day in the life
Clean and restock a restroom
Clean the fixtures, empty the trash and refill supplies, then check each dispenser before moving to another room.
Rearrange tables for a meeting
Some jobs have you move tables and chairs to set up a meeting or event.
Flag repairs, check doors before lockup
Spot a leaking fixture, tell your manager which repairs are needed, and check the doors at closing.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States
$17.71/hour
United States · May 2025
2% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobUsually no formal education requirement; some employers want a high school diploma or equivalent.
Pay
$17.71/hourNational median: $36,840 annually.
Outlook
2% growthProjected national employment growth from 2025 to 2035.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like moving around and working with your hands.
- You notice missed spots and unfinished tasks.
- You enjoy deciding what to tackle first.
Things to weigh
- Bending, lifting and repeated motions can leave your back and limbs sore.
- Restrooms and trash areas can be unpleasant to clean.
Where AI may help
In buildings equipped for them, robotic floor scrubbers can repeat a cleaning route while you handle other tasks.
What people still lead
You still prepare the machine and clear its route. Restocking, moving furniture and noticing repair needs involve different work.
What we can’t predict yet
How much floor work robots take over will depend on the space: stairs, obstacles and changing room layouts complicate automation.
Pay in context
Earnings
The median is the midpoint of workers’ wages, not a starting offer.
The pay spread
The lowest-paid 10% earned under $13.77 an hour; the highest-paid 10% earned over $24.17.
Workplace matters
Hourly medians were $20.76 in government, $18.63 in education, $18.35 in healthcare and social assistance, and $17.21 in building services. Government excludes state/local education and hospitals.
Openings beyond new jobs
About 321,800 openings a year are projected, mostly to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Getting started
Learn beside an experienced cleaner
- What the route involves
- Start in an entry cleaning job and learn equipment use alongside an experienced janitor.
- What it can lead to
- Build the practical skills to handle the cleaning routine yourself.
Take a hands-on custodial course
- What the route involves
- Practice room cleaning, floor buffing and carpet extraction in a program such as Fresno Adult School’s custodial training.
- What it can lead to
- Gain practical preparation for custodial work in schools, hospitals or private businesses.
You can enter through employment or prepare in a custodial course first.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn your building’s cleaning sequence and keep track of supplies before they run out.
Build floor-care skills
Learn to buff and finish hard floors and use extraction equipment to clean carpets.
Move toward crew leadership
A custodial lead cleans alongside the crew, trains newer workers, checks results and coordinates tasks.
Where you can work
Office buildings
Cleaning often happens after office workers leave, so evening hours may shape your routine.
- Indoors
- Office
- Shift work
- Physical demands
University campuses
You may work with a custodial crew across classrooms and common areas. Event setups and clearing snowy entrances can interrupt the usual cleaning round.
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- Physical demands
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
In a school hallway you already use, sketch a cleaning round: mark floor surfaces, bins and doors, then decide your task order. Notice whether planning the route and catching overlooked details appeals to you.
Stay safe: Observe only; leave cleaning chemicals, equipment and locked areas alone.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — 37-2011.00. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Janitors and Building Cleaners — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Tennant Company. AMR Deployment Quick Start Guide. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Fresno Adult School. Custodial / Janitorial. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Missouri State University. 8024 Custodial Lead. Accessed 2026-10-02.