Learn About the Salary, Required Skills, & More
A janitor is possibly one of the most underrated occupations. They might operate in the background, but we'd certainly take notice if they didn't exist. Janitors maintain the cleanliness and safety of the buildings in which we live, work, learn, shop and convalesce.
It's a dirty job, but somebody's going to do it (and get paid for it)! Janitors and janitorial custodians are building maintenance professionals who. Explore the skills, qualifications, and traits that will help you on the job with our janitor job description. Visit JobHero for resources!
They clean the interiors, and often the exteriors, of these facilities. Some also make minor plumbing and electrical repairs. Janitors go by several job titles including custodian, cleaner, custodial support technician, cleaning technician and environmental services technician.
Janitor Duties & Responsibilities
Janitors are often called on to perform an ever-changing variety of tasks in addition to routine maintenance and cleaning duties. On a typical day a janitor's tasks might include:
- Emptying trash cans
- Cleaning restrooms and keeping them stocked with supplies
- Locking doors and securing rooms and buildings
- Sweeping, vacuuming and washing floors
- Shampooing carpets and polishing floors
- Washing windows and mirrors
- Shoveling snow, raking leaves and mowing lawns, depending on the season
- Moving supplies and heavy equipment
Janitor Salary
A janitor's wages vary based on the level of experience, geographical location, and other factors.
- Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $20.84/hour
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $9.16/hour
Education, Training & Certification
A janitor position doesn't require formal training, but certain classes in high school, such as shop, can be helpful for repair work performed on the job.
- Training: Those who are just starting out will receive on-the-job training from experienced workers who teach them how to use machines like wet-dry vacuums and floor buffers. They will also learn how to make minor plumbing and electrical repairs.
- Certifications: A janitor who works with hazardous materials may need to become certified. One who uses heavy equipment, for example, forklifts, may also need certification. Additionally, janitors can receive other certifications through entities such as the Building Service Contractors Association International, which will make them a more competitive job candidate.
Janitor Skills & Competencies
Individuals seeking a janitorial position can gain an edge and excel in their job by possessing some of the following skills and strengths:
- Interpersonal and communication skills: A janitor needs good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively. This will help them get along with colleagues, supervisors and the people who inhabit the facilities in which they work.
- Mechanical aptitude: Mechanical skills will enable one to do repair work.
- Physical strength: He or she should also be physically strong and have good stamina given the amount of lifting and standing that are a regular part of this job.
- Time management: Janitors have a variety of responsibilities and must be able to manage their time and schedule well to make sure tasks and maintenance duties are completed on time.
Job Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth that is faster than the average of 7% for all occupations through 2026. There will be plenty of job openings for janitors as people retire or change careers. It appears, as a matter of fact, on a list of occupations expected to have the most job openings during this decade.
Janitorial jobs over the next decade relative to other occupations and industries will grow at 10%, driven by an increase in janitors needed for healthcare facilities growth, and a continued trend toward outsourcing companies that hire janitors for their clients.
Employment will continue to grow due to a need to replace workers who leave or retire from the profession. This growth rate compares to the projected 7 percent growth for all occupations.
Work Environment
Many janitors work for companies that provide janitorial services to other entities. Many jobs are in elementary and secondary schools. A janitor typically works indoors, but may also spend time outdoors, getting exposed to extremely hot, cold or otherwise inclement weather at least during part of the workday.
The weather is a potential downside of this occupation. Many also consider this a dirty job, and another downside is physical stress. Lifting heavy items and spending much of the day standing can strain one's body. Janitors are also more susceptible than other workers to workplace injuries like burns, bruises, and cuts.
Work Schedule
The majority of janitors work full-time schedules, but there are many part-time jobs to be found as well. Schedules often include evenings and weekends. Those who prefer to work during the day should consider a job in a school where such a schedule is most likely.
How to Get the Job
PREPARE A RESUME
Focus on skills you've used in a past janitorial job or in similar positions. Conduct an online search for janitor or custodian resume examples, which can help you see what to include and how to best format your information.
APPLY
Look at job-search resources like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Glassdoor.com for available positions. You can also visit individual company websites and look for job postings, such as Walmart or Target career centers. If you want to work in a certain industry, search for online sites that focus on a specific niche, such as government jobs on sites like CareersInGovernment.com.
Comparing Similar Jobs
People interested in becoming a janitor also consider the following career paths, listed with their median annual salaries:
- Grounds maintenance workers: $29,400
- Pest control workers: $35,610
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017
Article Table of Contents Skip to section
- Janitor Duties & Responsibilities
- Education, Training & Certification
- Job Outlook
- Work Schedule
broom image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Updated July 05, 2017
Growth Trends for Related Jobs
Janitors are individuals who clean buildings and make sure equipment in a building is working properly, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Janitorial supervisors are professionals who manage these individuals. First-line supervisors of building cleaning workers, which include janitorial supervisors, filled 251,100 jobs in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Duties
Janitorial supervisors organize janitors’ schedules of duties and assign various tasks to janitors. These tasks can include cleaning rugs and floors, removing trash, replacing supplies in bathrooms, cleaning bathrooms and even removing snow from sidewalks. Janitors additionally might be responsible for completing minor maintenance tasks and alerting janitorial supervisors of larger building or equipment problems that need outside attention. Once janitors have completed their cleaning tasks, janitorial supervisors examine buildings to ensure the work meets established standards. They also might have to investigate complaints about janitorial service, according to CareerPlanner.com. Janitorial supervisors might be required to complete cleaning duties as well, especially if they are short-staffed.
Other Responsibilities
Janitorial supervisors also manage inventories of cleaning equipment and supplies such as mops, vacuum cleaners, cleaning solutions and floor buffers to make sure their janitors can perform their jobs effectively. They thus must be able to manage their cleaning expenses well and might even have to produce reports on their expenditures. These professionals additionally hire janitors, provide training to both current and new workers and manage the number of hours their employees work. Janitorial supervisors can terminate or promote employees as well.
Skills
Janitorial supervisors must have strong leadership skills. They should be able to communicate well both verbally and through writing when directing the tasks of janitors and preparing reports for their own supervisors. Janitorial supervisors should be very organized, pay strong attention to detail and be able to motivate their employees. These professionals also should have strong training skills for teaching employees how to perform various cleaning procedures or use equipment properly. They must be good managers of time and have good judgment as well.
Education/Opportunities
Janitorial supervisors typically need at least a high school diploma or GED, but employers also look for those who have a college degree or have completed at least some post-secondary education. College education is particularly attractive to employers in the health care and hospitality industries, where clean rooms and well-maintained facilities are critical. Many companies also work to increase janitorial supervisors’ leadership skills through in-service training. Janitorial supervisors usually can find work in firms that provide services to office facilities and residential buildings, or they can land jobs at schools, universities and government offices. Janitorial supervisors also can run their own businesses.
Outlook
Employment of janitorial supervisors is projected to grow five percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The health care industry especially is a growing area of potential for these professionals. Median hourly wages of first-line supervisors of building cleaning workers such as janitorial workers in May 2008 were $16.34, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- broom image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com