Janitors, or building custodians, clean and maintain many types of buildings, including offices, hotels, stores, homes, apartments, and hospitals.
Janitors have a variety of duties, depending on their employer and the extent of their responsibilities. Some janitors are responsible only for cleaning while others have maintenance responsibilities as well. Some typical janitorial duties include mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, emptying garbage cans, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, making beds, and dusting furniture. Minimal maintenance work may include changing light bulbs, painting, carpentry, and repairing leaky faucets.
Janitors use tools and cleaning equipment to perform their tasks.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Janitors are employed throughout the United States. Most janitors work in the evenings when buildings are empty. Some janitors work during the day, especially in schools, hotels, and hospitals.
Janitors usually work indoors, but they sometimes have to work outdoors to shovel sidewalks and mow lawns. Some tasks a janitor may be required to perform are dirty and unpleasant. Janitors spend most of their working hours on their feet and may have to move heavy objects or cleaning equipment. Many janitors are employed part-time.
Janitors spend considerable time working indoors and only occasionally their work demands working outside. It is a hugely physically demanding occupation. Janitors spend all day on their feet, and have to consistently shift or lift heavy equipment and supplies. Injuries are not rare in this occupation, so janitors need to be watchful and vigilant that not only do they take precautions but that their work place has installed requisite safety precautions, so that they remain safe on the job.
Working hours for janitors differ significantly depending on the type of work they do. Offices are usually cleaned after hours, so night and weekend work is often required.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
There are no formal educational requirements for janitors. Janitors do need to know simple arithmetic and must be able to follow directions. Most janitors receive on-the-job training. Beginners usually work with a more experienced person to learn efficient methods of performing tasks.
Potential and Advancement
There are about 2,360,600 janitors in the United States. The job outlook for this field is decent, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that it will experience average growth of 6% between 2014 and 2024. Advancement opportunities for janitors are generally limited and Janitor jobs are not expected to see much growth beyond their current levels in the next decade. Where there are large maintenance staffs, some janitors may become supervisors. Others advance by owning their own cleaning business.
Income
Janitors earned a median annual salary of $23,440 in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Related Jobs
Related jobs include grounds maintenance worker, housekeeper, custodian, cleaner, custodial support technician, cleaning technician, and environmental services technician.
