How much does a janitor make?
The median janitor in the United States earns $36,840 per year, about $17.71 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all janitors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 37-2011.
Janitor salary range
Pay for janitors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,640 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $50,270. The average (mean) wage of $38,760 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 | |
| Median (50th) | $36,840 | $17.71 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $44,060 | $21.18 | |
| 90th percentile | $50,270 | $24.17 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (SOC 37-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Janitor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Janitors earn the most in Massachusetts at $45,580 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $28,380. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $45,580 | 55,490 |
| Washington | $45,520 | 47,380 |
| New York | $41,640 | 195,250 |
| California | $41,090 | 234,240 |
| Vermont | $40,910 | 5,130 |
| Alaska | $40,510 | 5,200 |
| Minnesota | $39,610 | 42,300 |
| Oregon | $39,340 | 25,890 |
| New Hampshire | $39,150 | 9,420 |
| Maine | $38,940 | 9,180 |
| Colorado | $38,600 | 34,220 |
| District of Columbia | $38,520 | 16,400 |
| Nevada | $38,420 | 32,830 |
| Connecticut | $37,960 | 28,740 |
| Illinois | $37,810 | 93,760 |
| North Dakota | $37,750 | 6,720 |
| Hawaii | $37,710 | 11,230 |
| New Jersey | $37,630 | 67,660 |
| Rhode Island | $37,310 | 7,270 |
| Montana | $37,110 | 8,320 |
| Wisconsin | $37,000 | 45,640 |
| Maryland | $36,620 | 40,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,520 | 86,920 |
| Indiana | $36,460 | 49,220 |
| Arizona | $36,220 | 38,290 |
| Idaho | $36,110 | 10,800 |
| Michigan | $36,050 | 65,790 |
| Wyoming | $36,050 | 4,760 |
| New Mexico | $36,020 | 14,360 |
| Missouri | $35,900 | 41,070 |
| Nebraska | $35,900 | 12,860 |
| Ohio | $35,900 | 72,540 |
| South Dakota | $35,480 | 8,630 |
| Iowa | $35,380 | 23,960 |
| Delaware | $35,320 | 9,220 |
| Virginia | $35,170 | 65,970 |
| North Carolina | $34,500 | 53,330 |
| Florida | $34,490 | 131,900 |
| Kansas | $34,480 | 17,220 |
| Georgia | $34,310 | 55,660 |
| Tennessee | $33,440 | 38,120 |
| Texas | $33,010 | 184,840 |
| Kentucky | $32,320 | 25,750 |
| Utah | $32,200 | 24,710 |
| South Carolina | $31,180 | 30,100 |
| Oklahoma | $31,110 | 23,620 |
| West Virginia | $30,980 | 9,340 |
| Alabama | $30,620 | 25,110 |
| Arkansas | $29,750 | 19,490 |
| Louisiana | $28,930 | 27,610 |
| Mississippi | $28,380 | 15,940 |
State median wages for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (SOC 37-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for janitors
The BLS projects employment of janitors to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 2,432,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,486,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 321,800 openings a year for janitors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a janitor
The typical entry-level education for janitors is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a janitor earns
Employer, region, shift, and whether the role is supervisory account for most of the pay spread. Government and large institutional employers often pay above small private contractors.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $45,580) and the lowest (Mississippi, $28,380) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 2,209,760 people work as janitors in the United States. At $36,840 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Janitor salary FAQ
How much does a janitor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a janitor is $17.71. The middle half of janitors earn between $15.50 and $21.18 per hour.
What is the highest janitor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of janitors earn more than $50,270 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a janitor make a year?
The median annual salary for a janitor is $36,840. The average (mean) wage of $38,760 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a janitor a well paid job?
At $36,840 a year, a janitor earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 2,209,760 people work as janitors in the United States.
Which state pays janitors the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for janitors at $45,580 a year. Washington ($45,520) and New York ($41,640) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a janitor a good career?
Employment of janitors is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 321,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a janitor?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for janitors as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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