What Do Janitor Do?
Janitor Definition 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.
Janitor Responsibilities
- Service, clean, or supply restrooms.
- Set up, arrange, or remove decorations, tables, chairs, ladders, or scaffolding to prepare facilities for events, such as banquets or meetings.
- Dust furniture, walls, machines, or equipment.
- Mix water and detergents or acids in containers to prepare cleaning solutions, according to specifications.
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming.
- Move heavy furniture, equipment, or supplies, either manually or by using hand trucks.
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What Every Janitor Should Know
When polled, Janitors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Types of Janitor
- Hall Cleaner
- Floor Waxer
- Handy Man
- Floors Buffer
- Utility Worker
Job Opportunities for Janitors
There were about 2,384,600 jobs for Janitor in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 236,600 new jobs for Janitor by 2026. The BLS estimates 344,100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Janitor are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Janitor
The average yearly salary of a Janitor ranges between $19,060 and $43,340.

Janitors who work in Massachusetts, Washington, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Janitors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $23,700 |
Alaska | $34,130 |
Arizona | $26,410 |
Arkansas | $23,520 |
California | $33,570 |
Colorado | $28,980 |
Connecticut | $34,360 |
Delaware | $28,530 |
District of Columbia | $32,260 |
Florida | $25,450 |
Georgia | $24,180 |
Hawaii | $31,350 |
Idaho | $25,770 |
Illinois | $30,410 |
Indiana | $26,900 |
Iowa | $28,030 |
Kansas | $25,900 |
Kentucky | $25,940 |
Louisiana | $22,030 |
Maine | $29,940 |
Maryland | $28,370 |
Massachusetts | $35,560 |
Michigan | $27,230 |
Minnesota | $31,680 |
Mississippi | $22,120 |
Missouri | $27,470 |
Montana | $29,790 |
Nebraska | $27,350 |
Nevada | $30,380 |
New Hampshire | $29,420 |
New Jersey | $31,700 |
New Mexico | $24,320 |
New York | $35,080 |
North Carolina | $24,190 |
North Dakota | $30,740 |
Ohio | $27,930 |
Oklahoma | $23,670 |
Oregon | $29,860 |
Pennsylvania | $28,730 |
Rhode Island | $31,000 |
South Carolina | $23,370 |
South Dakota | $25,900 |
Tennessee | $24,430 |
Texas | $24,870 |
Utah | $25,270 |
Vermont | $31,280 |
Virginia | $26,340 |
Washington | $35,220 |
West Virginia | $26,000 |
Wisconsin | $28,200 |
Wyoming | $29,340 |
What Tools & Technology do Janitors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Janitors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
How to Become a Janitor
What kind of Janitor requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Janitor?

Where Janitors Are Employed

Janitors work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those who work as a Janitor sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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