Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, play a vital role in keeping buildings and facilities clean and usable. This occupation employs 2,448,000 people nationally, reflecting a large workforce and broad presence across many types of workplaces. The national median annual salary is $35,930, giving workers a clear reference point for typical earnings. Projected employment growth of 2.0% and 351,000 annual openings indicate ongoing hiring needs and regular turnover, which can benefit both new entrants and job changers. Career success in this field draws on a mix of physical strength and stamina, mechanical ability, and fine motor skills, combined with interpersonal and customer service strengths. Opportunities exist across the country, with certain states and metro areas standing out for higher salaries or stronger overall opportunity scores. For individuals seeking work that does not require a formal educational credential and offers many entry points, this occupation presents a sizable and active job market.
The national median annual salary for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, is $35,930. Pay levels vary by location, and several states and metro areas offer higher median wages than this national figure. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Massachusetts and Washington each report median salaries above $45,000, while New York and California are just above $41,000. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH shows a median salary of $46,550, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is close behind at $44,180. Even within the same state, pay can differ by metro area, as seen in California’s San Jose and San Francisco regions. These variations suggest that workers who are flexible about location may be able to target areas with higher typical pay while also considering each area’s opportunity score and job concentration.
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, have a substantial national employment base of 2,448,000 workers. Projected employment growth of 2.0% indicates that total employment in this occupation is expected to increase over time rather than decline. In addition, the occupation is projected to have 351,000 annual openings. These openings can come from both new job creation and the need to replace workers who retire or change occupations. Together, the large existing workforce, positive projected growth, and high number of annual openings point to a labor market with frequent hiring activity. For job seekers, this combination can translate into repeated opportunities to enter or re-enter the field. For experienced workers, it can support movement between employers or locations. While conditions can still differ by region, the national indicators show an occupation that remains in demand with ongoing employment prospects.
Location can significantly shape the experience of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, especially when considering both pay and overall opportunity scores. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York lead on CareerGPS opportunity scores, all above 65, with median salaries ranging from $41,090 in California to $45,580 in Massachusetts. Washington and Colorado also appear in the top group with opportunity scores in the mid‑50s and median salaries between $38,600 and $45,520. At the metro level, opportunities can be even more concentrated. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metros both have opportunity scores above 77, the highest listed, with median salaries above $42,000. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has the highest metro median salary at $46,550. These figures show that both statewide and metro-specific factors matter, and workers may weigh salary, opportunity score, and employment levels—such as 183,030 jobs in the New York metro—when choosing where to work.
This occupation typically does not require a formal educational credential, which can make entry accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including those new to the workforce or changing careers. Without a formal education requirement, skills become especially important for standing out and advancing. Key skills linked with this field include physical strength and stamina, which support the physical aspects of the work, as well as mechanical ability and fine motor skills. Project management and leadership skills can be valuable for coordinating tasks, overseeing work, or moving into roles with more responsibility. Customer service and interpersonal skills help in interacting effectively with building users and coworkers. Additional strengths in science, computers and information technology, and creativity and innovation can also contribute to problem-solving and efficiency. Together, these capabilities provide multiple pathways for workers to develop professionally, even in the absence of specific educational credentials.
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