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Commercial Real Estate & Office Buildings
CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield
Building Cleaning Workers, All Other
Building cleaning workers keep offices, hallways, restrooms, and other shared spaces usable by sweeping, mopping, disinfecting, and restocking supplies. The work is straightforward but physical, and the biggest tradeoff is that it offers a low-barrier way into steady work while still involving repetitive labor, awkward hours, and limited room to move up unless you step into lead or supervisor roles.
Also known as JanitorCustodianCleanerBuilding CleanerCustodial Worker
Median Salary
$42,360
Mean $44,150
U.S. Workforce
~16K
2.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.5%
18.1K to 18.5K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Building Cleaning Workers, All Other sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~16K workers, with a median annual pay of $42,360 and roughly 2.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 18.1 K in 2024 to 18.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Cleaning Helper and can progress toward Cleaning Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Floor Care Equipment: Auto-Scrubbers, Burnishers & Carpet Extractors, Chemical Safety: SDS, Dilution Ratios & PPE, and Restroom Sanitization & Infection-Control Procedures, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Reliability, and Time management.
Core Responsibilities
- Sweep, vacuum, mop, and scrub floors in hallways, offices, lobbies, and other common areas.
- Clean and disinfect restrooms, sinks, counters, and other high-touch surfaces.
- Empty trash and recycling bins, replace liners, and move waste to the right pickup area.
- Restock soap, paper towels, tissue, and other supplies so rooms stay ready to use.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Sweep, vacuum, mop, and scrub floors in hallways, offices, lobbies, and other common areas.
02 Clean and disinfect restrooms, sinks, counters, and other high-touch surfaces.
03 Empty trash and recycling bins, replace liners, and move waste to the right pickup area.
04 Restock soap, paper towels, tissue, and other supplies so rooms stay ready to use.
05 Treat spills, stains, and spot-cleaning jobs with the right chemicals and equipment for the surface.
06 Set up cleaning equipment, check for broken fixtures or safety hazards, and report issues before leaving the building.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare Facilities
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Cleveland Clinic
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Hospitality & Hotels
Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt
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Retail & Distribution Centers
Walmart, Target, Costco
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Corporate Campuses & Tech Offices
Amazon, Google, Microsoft
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You do not need a formal degree to start, and the usual training is short-term on the job.
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The job has steady demand, with about 2.6K annual openings projected and 16,370 workers currently employed in the field.
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Pay is fairly solid for an entry-friendly trade, with a median annual wage of $42,360 and a mean of $44,150.
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The work is useful in many settings, so the same core skills transfer between offices, hospitals, hotels, schools, and retail buildings.
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Most of the work is inside, so you are less exposed to weather than many other trades.
Challenges
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The job is physically demanding: you spend a lot of the day standing, bending, lifting, and moving equipment.
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You work around cleaning chemicals, germs, wet floors, and sharp objects, so safety habits matter every shift.
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Growth is slow at 2.5% from 2024 to 2034, so most openings are replacements rather than big new demand.
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The career ceiling is limited unless you move into lead or supervisor work, because the base role is easy to enter and widely available.
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Cleaning budgets are often squeezed by outsourcing and contract bidding, which can affect schedules, staffing, and wage growth.
Career Progression
Cleaning Helper
0-1 years
$30K-$35K
This starter role handles simple sweeping, trash removal, and supply restocking while learning safety rules and cleaning routines.
Building Cleaning Worker
1-3 years
$36K-$47K
At this level, workers clean larger areas on their own, handle restrooms and floor care, and keep the building ready for daily use.
Lead Custodian THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$48K-$58K
Lead workers assign tasks, check quality, handle deeper floor care, and make sure supplies and equipment are ready for the crew.
Cleaning Supervisor
6+ years
$59K-$73K
Supervisors schedule staff, manage supplies, respond to facility problems, and keep cleaning standards consistent across shifts.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
This is the BLS typical entry point, and most workers learn the job through short-term on-the-job training.
High school diploma or GED
Some employers prefer this because it helps with safety instructions, schedules, and basic reporting, even though the job does not usually require it.
Custodial or janitorial certificate
A short credential can help with floor care, chemical handling, and infection-control basics, especially in larger buildings.
Key Skills
Technical
Floor Care Equipment: Auto-Scrubbers, Burnishers & Carpet Extractors 88%
Chemical Safety: SDS, Dilution Ratios & PPE 86%
Restroom Sanitization & Infection-Control Procedures 84%
Vacuuming & Commercial Carpet Care 80%
Trash, Recycling & Waste Handling Procedures 76%
Supply Inventory & Restocking Systems 72%
Work Order Reporting & Building Inspection Checklists 68%
Ladder, Window & High-Dust Cleaning Safety 64%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailReliabilityTime managementPhysical staminaCommunicationRespect for privacy Job Outlook and Trends
+2.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 18.1K to 18.5 K over the next decade, representing 2.5% growth. Around 2.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.