Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (SOC 37-2011) earn a median $36,840 a year ($17.71 an hour) in the United States, with 2,209,760 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners do
Janitors and cleaners keep buildings clean and orderly. They sweep, mop, scrub, and vacuum floors, empty trash, wash windows and walls, and stock and clean restrooms. Heavier jobs include shampooing rugs and clearing snow or debris from sidewalks. Duties may include tending a furnace or boiler and doing routine maintenance, and janitors notify managers when major repairs are needed. They also lock doors after operating hours and check that appliances are not left in use in a way that creates hazards. They mix cleaning solutions from water and detergents or acids and follow set procedures for chemical cleaners and power equipment so floors and fixtures are not damaged. Maids and housekeeping cleaners are excluded; their work is lighter cleaning in private households and commercial establishments such as hotels and hospitals.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 62 percent).
Also called: Airport Attendant, Alley Cleaner, Blinds Cleaner, Blinds Washer, Brass Cleaner.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.77 | $15.50 | $17.71 | $21.18 | $24.17 | $18.64 | 2,209,760 |
| Annual | $28,640 | $32,240 | $36,840 | $44,060 | $50,270 | $38,760 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $16.97 | $18.06 | $21.91 | $23.90 | $28.78 | $21.75 | 55,490 | 15.25 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $35,290 | $37,560 | $45,580 | $49,720 | $59,860 | $45,250 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.82 | $18.76 | $21.89 | $25.93 | $29.58 | $22.79 | 47,380 | 13.34 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $37,070 | $39,020 | $45,520 | $53,920 | $61,520 | $47,410 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.61 | $17.48 | $20.02 | $24.09 | $29.73 | $21.55 | 195,250 | 20.15 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $34,540 | $36,360 | $41,640 | $50,100 | $61,830 | $44,830 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.12 | $17.71 | $19.75 | $23.20 | $28.34 | $21.25 | 234,240 | 12.86 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $35,610 | $36,830 | $41,090 | $48,250 | $58,950 | $44,210 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $16.02 | $17.81 | $19.67 | $22.36 | $25.00 | $20.35 | 5,130 | 16.88 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $33,310 | $37,050 | $40,910 | $46,500 | $52,000 | $42,320 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.12 | $17.71 | $19.75 | $23.20 | $28.34 | $21.25 | 234,240 | 12.86 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $35,610 | $36,830 | $41,090 | $48,250 | $58,950 | $44,210 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.61 | $17.48 | $20.02 | $24.09 | $29.73 | $21.55 | 195,250 | 20.15 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $34,540 | $36,360 | $41,640 | $50,100 | $61,830 | $44,830 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.28 | $13.34 | $15.87 | $18.24 | $22.09 | $16.29 | 184,840 | 13.14 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $23,450 | $27,740 | $33,010 | $37,930 | $45,950 | $33,890 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.85 | $14.45 | $16.58 | $17.86 | $20.64 | $16.86 | 131,900 | 13.28 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $28,800 | $30,060 | $34,490 | $37,140 | $42,930 | $35,060 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $15.17 | $17.14 | $18.18 | $21.83 | $24.04 | $19.59 | 93,760 | 15.38 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $31,560 | $35,660 | $37,810 | $45,410 | $50,000 | $40,750 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Longview-Kelso, WA | Hourly | $17.56 | $18.56 | $22.40 | $23.96 | $28.43 | $22.16 | 510 | 12.32 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $36,520 | $38,600 | $46,590 | $49,830 | $59,120 | $46,090 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $17.15 | $18.34 | $22.38 | $23.93 | $29.12 | $22.07 | 43,160 | 15.96 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $35,680 | $38,150 | $46,550 | $49,770 | $60,570 | $45,900 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $18.51 | $19.93 | $22.35 | $27.43 | $30.34 | $23.74 | 26,820 | 12.86 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $38,490 | $41,450 | $46,490 | $57,050 | $63,120 | $49,380 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $17.76 | $18.55 | $22.10 | $25.20 | $30.44 | $22.98 | 1,250 | 13.36 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $38,580 | $45,970 | $52,410 | $63,310 | $47,800 | ||||
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $16.68 | $17.70 | $22.08 | $24.20 | $28.08 | $22.14 | 1,240 | 15.56 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $34,700 | $36,820 | $45,920 | $50,330 | $58,400 | $46,050 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.83 | $17.66 | $20.60 | $24.63 | $29.78 | $21.88 | 183,030 | 19.28 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $35,000 | $36,740 | $42,840 | $51,220 | $61,950 | $45,520 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.16 | $17.56 | $18.62 | $22.63 | $27.07 | $20.70 | 83,160 | 13.26 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $35,700 | $36,520 | $38,720 | $47,070 | $56,300 | $43,050 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.75 | $17.48 | $18.49 | $21.99 | $24.04 | $19.90 | 70,000 | 15.51 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $32,760 | $36,360 | $38,470 | $45,730 | $50,000 | $41,400 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $15.25 | $17.09 | $18.19 | $20.45 | $23.45 | $19.07 | 59,090 | 18.84 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $31,720 | $35,540 | $37,840 | $42,530 | $48,780 | $39,660 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $11.16 | $12.83 | $14.74 | $17.68 | $21.55 | $15.70 | 48,880 | 14.86 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $23,200 | $26,680 | $30,650 | $36,770 | $44,820 | $32,660 | ||||
Top industries employing janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
Services to Buildings and Dwellings employ 37.5% of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners nationally (829,300 jobs) at a median $35,790 a year ($17.21 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (14.7%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (4.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings NAICS 561700 | 829,300 | 37.5% | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 325,380 | 14.7% | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 89,470 | 4.0% | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 70,140 | 3.2% | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Real Estate NAICS 531000 | 63,640 | 2.9% | $40,290 | $19.37 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,209,760). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,760 for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in May 2021 and $36,840 in May 2025, with employment of 2,036,680 and 2,209,760.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,760 | $14.31 | 2,036,680 |
| May 2022 | $31,990 | $15.38 | 2,148,350 |
| May 2023 | $35,020 | $16.84 | 2,172,500 |
| May 2024 | $35,930 | $17.27 | 2,199,900 |
| May 2025 | $36,840 | $17.71 | 2,209,760 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $21.91 | $45,580 | $35,290 | $59,860 | 55,490 | 15.25 | 1.07 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $21.89 | $45,520 | $37,070 | $61,520 | 47,380 | 13.34 | 0.94 |
| 3 | New York profile | $20.02 | $41,640 | $34,540 | $61,830 | 195,250 | 20.15 | 1.42 |
| 4 | California profile | $19.75 | $41,090 | $35,610 | $58,950 | 234,240 | 12.86 | 0.90 |
| 5 | Vermont profile | $19.67 | $40,910 | $33,310 | $52,000 | 5,130 | 16.88 | 1.19 |
| 6 | Alaska profile | $19.48 | $40,510 | $28,380 | $53,480 | 5,200 | 15.99 | 1.12 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $19.04 | $39,610 | $30,770 | $52,520 | 42,300 | 14.34 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $18.92 | $39,340 | $33,570 | $55,000 | 25,890 | 13.16 | 0.93 |
| 9 | New Hampshire profile | $18.82 | $39,150 | $30,060 | $51,280 | 9,420 | 13.79 | 0.97 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $18.72 | $38,940 | $34,530 | $49,360 | 9,180 | 14.33 | 1.01 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $18.56 | $38,600 | $34,150 | $51,210 | 34,220 | 11.91 | 0.84 |
| 12 | District of Columbia profile | $18.52 | $38,520 | $37,350 | $46,460 | 16,400 | 23.36 | 1.64 |
| 13 | Nevada profile | $18.47 | $38,420 | $27,370 | $51,430 | 32,830 | 21.16 | 1.49 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $18.25 | $37,960 | $34,150 | $59,690 | 28,740 | 16.94 | 1.19 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $18.18 | $37,810 | $31,560 | $50,000 | 93,760 | 15.38 | 1.08 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | $18.15 | $37,750 | $30,800 | $50,080 | 6,720 | 15.64 | 1.10 |
| 17 | Hawaii profile | $18.13 | $37,710 | $29,120 | $51,770 | 11,230 | 17.89 | 1.26 |
| 18 | New Jersey profile | $18.09 | $37,630 | $32,330 | $50,660 | 67,660 | 15.79 | 1.11 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $17.94 | $37,310 | $31,430 | $51,050 | 7,270 | 14.51 | 1.02 |
| 20 | Montana profile | $17.84 | $37,110 | $28,620 | $48,450 | 8,320 | 16.26 | 1.14 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $17.79 | $37,000 | $29,600 | $47,580 | 45,640 | 15.51 | 1.09 |
| 22 | Maryland profile | $17.61 | $36,620 | $31,850 | $48,450 | 40,390 | 14.62 | 1.03 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.56 | $36,520 | $28,060 | $48,240 | 86,920 | 14.33 | 1.01 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | $17.53 | $36,460 | $28,860 | $46,490 | 49,220 | 15.38 | 1.08 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $17.42 | $36,220 | $31,450 | $45,670 | 38,290 | 11.82 | 0.83 |
| 26 | Idaho profile | $17.36 | $36,110 | $28,390 | $49,000 | 10,800 | 12.60 | 0.89 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $17.33 | $36,050 | $29,340 | $46,110 | 65,790 | 14.94 | 1.05 |
| 28 | Wyoming profile | $17.33 | $36,050 | $28,910 | $46,300 | 4,760 | 16.97 | 1.19 |
| 29 | New Mexico profile | $17.32 | $36,020 | $29,070 | $45,030 | 14,360 | 16.48 | 1.16 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $17.26 | $35,900 | $29,340 | $46,350 | 41,070 | 13.99 | 0.98 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $17.26 | $35,900 | $29,920 | $46,120 | 12,860 | 12.55 | 0.88 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $17.26 | $35,900 | $28,460 | $48,460 | 72,540 | 13.07 | 0.92 |
| 33 | South Dakota profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $28,970 | $44,740 | 8,630 | 18.87 | 1.33 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $17.01 | $35,380 | $28,490 | $47,300 | 23,960 | 15.37 | 1.08 |
| 35 | Delaware profile | $16.98 | $35,320 | $31,200 | $48,530 | 9,220 | 19.02 | 1.34 |
| 36 | Virginia profile | $16.91 | $35,170 | $28,290 | $47,240 | 65,970 | 16.05 | 1.13 |
| 37 | North Carolina profile | $16.59 | $34,500 | $25,740 | $42,430 | 53,330 | 10.79 | 0.76 |
| 38 | Florida profile | $16.58 | $34,490 | $28,800 | $42,930 | 131,900 | 13.28 | 0.93 |
| 39 | Kansas profile | $16.58 | $34,480 | $27,840 | $45,410 | 17,220 | 11.98 | 0.84 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $16.50 | $34,310 | $26,110 | $44,390 | 55,660 | 11.39 | 0.80 |
| 41 | Tennessee profile | $16.08 | $33,440 | $26,720 | $45,690 | 38,120 | 11.63 | 0.82 |
| 42 | Texas profile | $15.87 | $33,010 | $23,450 | $45,950 | 184,840 | 13.14 | 0.92 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $15.54 | $32,320 | $26,110 | $46,730 | 25,750 | 12.87 | 0.91 |
| 44 | Utah profile | $15.48 | $32,200 | $25,170 | $46,840 | 24,710 | 14.24 | 1.00 |
| 45 | South Carolina profile | $14.99 | $31,180 | $23,470 | $41,700 | 30,100 | 13.06 | 0.92 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $14.96 | $31,110 | $23,120 | $40,860 | 23,620 | 13.83 | 0.97 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $14.90 | $30,980 | $23,400 | $44,700 | 9,340 | 13.31 | 0.94 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $14.72 | $30,620 | $23,490 | $41,080 | 25,110 | 11.88 | 0.84 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $14.30 | $29,750 | $25,110 | $38,120 | 19,490 | 14.95 | 1.05 |
| 50 | Louisiana profile | $13.91 | $28,930 | $21,230 | $39,830 | 27,610 | 14.27 | 1.00 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $13.64 | $28,380 | $21,490 | $38,180 | 15,940 | 13.70 | 0.96 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (37-2010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 37-2011 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 37-2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 37-2011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.