Average Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners is $35,930 per year. The middle 50% earn between $30,830 and $41,650, with 2,199,900 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 393 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $27,570
- 25th
- $30,830
- Median
- $35,930
- 75th
- $41,650
- 90th
- $49,040
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
This is a lower-wage occupation relative to the US labor market. Pay is below the national median for all workers.
Pay is tightly clustered around the median. Most janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners earn within a narrow band, with less variation than many other occupations. That is often a sign of standardized roles or union and public-sector pay scales.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.0%
- 47,800 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 351,300
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings are high relative to the workforce size, reflecting meaningful turnover and new-hire volume.
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
There are no formal educational requirements for entry. Much of the training happens through experience on the job.
Where Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is Massachusetts at $44,570, about 24.0% above the national median. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH leads with a median of $46,230.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $44,570 | 56,160 |
| Washington | $43,720 | 48,470 |
| New York | $39,920 | 186,370 |
| Alaska | $39,040 | 4,900 |
| California | $38,640 | 237,680 |
| Vermont | $38,630 | 5,220 |
| Maine | $38,560 | 9,800 |
| District of Columbia | $38,390 | 14,950 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,230 | 44,220 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,820 | 27,680 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $44,750 | 1,220 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $44,030 | 680 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,600 | 1,310 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,530 | 31,140 |
| Napa, CA | $43,440 | 1,100 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $43,290 | 540 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners rose from $27,430 to $35,930, a gain of +31.0% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $27,430 would need to be worth $33,656 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $35,930 is $2,274 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +6.8% in purchasing power.
Real wages have outpaced inflation by 6.8%, a modest but real gain in purchasing power.
- Nominal change
- +31.0%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- +6.8%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $27,430
- 2020
- $29,080
- 2021
- $29,760
- 2022
- $31,990
- 2023
- $35,020
- 2024
- $35,930
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners
- $34,660
- Pest Control Workers
- $44,730
- Tree Trimmers And Pruners
- $50,430
Common salary questions for Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.