Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
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.
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. The role reports a median annual salary of $35,930 in the US and is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Coordination, Monitoring, Critical Thinking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £24,130 a year for Cleaners and domestics (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £20,942 to £27,960 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 9223). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- Law and Government
- Telecommunications
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
You start your shift before the building opens, collecting your cart of cleaning supplies and checking the list of areas to cover. First you clean and restock the restrooms, scrubbing sinks and toilets, refilling soap and paper towels and mopping floors. Then you empty trash bins across the offices and carry the bags to the collection point. Mid-morning you vacuum carpets and dust surfaces, working around staff at their desks. After lunch you use a floor-scrubbing machine in the main hallway, following safety instructions for the chemicals and equipment. When you notice a leaking pipe under a sink, you report it to the manager. In the evening, after everyone leaves, you lock doors, check windows and make sure the building is secure. The work is physical and often unseen, but a clean, safe building where people can work comfortably is something you can take pride in.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Service, clean, or supply restrooms.
- Gather and empty trash.
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming.
- Monitor building security and safety by performing tasks such as locking doors after operating hours or checking electrical appliance use to ensure that hazards are not created.
- Notify managers concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems.
- Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment to prevent damage to floors and fixtures.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
You start your shift before the building opens, collecting your cart of cleaning supplies and checking the list of areas to cover. First you clean and restock the restrooms, scrubbing sinks and toilets, refilling soap and paper towels and mopping floors. Then you empty trash bins across the offices and carry the bags to the collection point. Mid-morning you vacuum carpets and dust surfaces, working around staff at their desks.
How much does Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners earn?
The median annual salary for Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in the US is $35,930.
What is the job outlook for Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
The role is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 2,447,700 workers.
How do I become janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Coordination, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Time Management. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
Our AI-durability model gives Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.