Janitors and Building Cleaners
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Janitors and Building Cleaners in the United States earn a median salary of $36,840 per year — about $18 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 2.4M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core duties of this occupation are almost entirely physical, involving manual labor in unpredictable and varied environments like schools, hospitals, and construction sites. While AI might assist with minor administrative tasks like supply ordering or scheduling, the primary work of cleaning, disinfecting, and making physical repairs remains a significant barrier to AI and robotic automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNBEST VALUE | $44,030 | Below avg (93.0) | $47,365 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $46,590 | Average (99.3) | $46,913 |
| Merced, CA | $45,920 | Average (99.6) | $46,096 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $44,680 | Average (98.9) | $45,184 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $43,570 | Average (98.6) | $44,199 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $37,020 | Below avg (85.9) | $43,092 |
| Pueblo, CO | $40,050 | Below avg (93.0) | $43,064 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,000 | Below avg (90.7) | $42,997 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $43,420 | Average (101.2) | $42,906 |
| Grand Island, NE | $37,330 | Below avg (87.1) | $42,840 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $45,970 | Above avg (107.4) | $42,795 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,900 | Below avg (88.7) | $42,748 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $37,230 | Below avg (87.2) | $42,704 |
| Mankato, MN | $37,380 | Below avg (87.6) | $42,648 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $39,830 | Below avg (93.5) | $42,593 |