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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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Building cleaning workers, all other, support a wide range of facilities by providing specialized cleaning and maintenance services. Nationally, about 18,000 people work in this occupation, with a projected employment growth rate of 2.5%. With an estimated 3,000 annual openings, this field offers ongoing entry points for new workers as well as room for movement within the occupation. The national median annual salary is $42,360, with some states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. The role draws on a mix of physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, mechanical aptitude, and adaptability. It also benefits from project management, customer service, interpersonal, leadership, and computer skills. No formal educational credential is typically required, which makes this a potential option for people who want to enter the workforce quickly or change careers without additional schooling, while still having opportunities to grow through experience and skill development.
The national median annual salary for building cleaning workers, all other, is $42,360, but pay levels vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $45,430 in California to $61,580 in New York and $60,660 in Massachusetts. Colorado and Washington also exceed the national median, at $47,140 and $46,810 respectively. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands out with a median salary of $70,570, while New York State overall offers $61,580. Several California metros, such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($49,530) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ($45,430), are above or near the national median. These differences suggest that workers willing to consider particular states or metro areas may access higher earning potential within this occupation.
Building cleaning workers, all other, have national employment of about 18,000, with projected growth of 2.5%. This projected increase, combined with 3,000 estimated annual openings, indicates a steady flow of opportunities over time. The consistent 2.5% growth rate shown across the highlighted states and metro areas suggests broadly similar expansion patterns in different parts of the country. For job seekers, the combination of current employment levels and ongoing openings can support both first-time entry and re-entry to the field. The presence of this occupation in multiple states and major metro areas also means opportunities are not limited to a single region. Overall, the data point to a stable outlook with moderate projected growth and regular job openings that can support both new workers and those with experience looking to change employers or locations.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for building cleaning workers, all other. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York combine relatively high median salaries with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores above 65. Massachusetts and New York also show notably higher median pay, at $60,660 and $61,580, compared with California’s $45,430, while Colorado and Washington fall in the mid-to-high $40,000s. Employment levels vary, from 2,590 workers in California to 160 in Massachusetts, which may influence how competitive each state’s job market feels. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest opportunity score (77.42), paired with a median salary of $49,530. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands out for pay, with a $70,570 median salary. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim also offer opportunity scores above 60, indicating multiple strong regional choices for this career.
This occupation typically requires no formal educational credential, which can make entry more accessible to people who want to start working without additional schooling. Instead of formal education, success in building cleaning workers, all other, is closely tied to a broad mix of skills. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities support the hands-on nature of the work, while mechanical skills can help with tasks that involve equipment or systems. Project management and adaptability are important for organizing work and adjusting to changing needs. Customer service, interpersonal, and leadership skills are valuable for interacting with others and, in some cases, guiding teams or projects. Computers and information technology skills also play a role, indicating that some tasks may involve digital tools or systems. Together, this mix of abilities provides multiple pathways for workers to grow and take on more complex responsibilities over time, even without formal education requirements.
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