Janitor salary by state
The national median for janitors was $17.71 an hour, or $36,840 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: Massachusetts pays $8.27 an hour more at the median than Mississippi.
$17.71National median hourly
$36,840National median yearly
2,209,760Janitors on payrolls
51States and DC with figures
National pay for janitors
BLS counts janitors and cleaners together, outside of maids and housekeeping. Office cleaning crews and school custodians are in this group.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $13.77 | $28,640 |
| 25th percentile | $15.50 | $32,240 |
| Median | $17.71 | $36,840 |
| 75th percentile | $21.18 | $44,060 |
| 90th percentile | $24.17 | $50,270 |
| Average (mean) | $18.64 | $38,760 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Massachusetts | $21.91 | $45,580 |
| 2. Washington | $21.89 | $45,520 |
| 3. New York | $20.02 | $41,640 |
| 4. California | $19.75 | $41,090 |
| 5. Vermont | $19.67 | $40,910 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 51. Mississippi | $13.64 | $28,380 |
| 50. Louisiana | $13.91 | $28,930 |
| 49. Arkansas | $14.30 | $29,750 |
| 48. Alabama | $14.72 | $30,620 |
| 47. West Virginia | $14.90 | $30,980 |
Janitor pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many janitors work there and what a business should charge.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $14.72 | $30,620 | $11.29 to $19.75 | 25,110 |
| Alaska | $19.48 | $40,510 | $13.64 to $25.71 | 5,200 |
| Arizona | $17.42 | $36,220 | $15.12 to $21.96 | 38,290 |
| Arkansas | $14.30 | $29,750 | $12.07 to $18.33 | 19,490 |
| California | $19.75 | $41,090 | $17.12 to $28.34 | 234,240 |
| Colorado | $18.56 | $38,600 | $16.42 to $24.62 | 34,220 |
| Connecticut | $18.25 | $37,960 | $16.42 to $28.70 | 28,740 |
| Delaware | $16.98 | $35,320 | $15.00 to $23.33 | 9,220 |
| District of Columbia | $18.52 | $38,520 | $17.96 to $22.34 | 16,400 |
| Florida | $16.58 | $34,490 | $13.85 to $20.64 | 131,900 |
| Georgia | $16.50 | $34,310 | $12.55 to $21.34 | 55,660 |
| Hawaii | $18.13 | $37,710 | $14.00 to $24.89 | 11,230 |
| Idaho | $17.36 | $36,110 | $13.65 to $23.56 | 10,800 |
| Illinois | $18.18 | $37,810 | $15.17 to $24.04 | 93,760 |
| Indiana | $17.53 | $36,460 | $13.88 to $22.35 | 49,220 |
| Iowa | $17.01 | $35,380 | $13.70 to $22.74 | 23,960 |
| Kansas | $16.58 | $34,480 | $13.39 to $21.83 | 17,220 |
| Kentucky | $15.54 | $32,320 | $12.55 to $22.47 | 25,750 |
| Louisiana | $13.91 | $28,930 | $10.21 to $19.15 | 27,610 |
| Maine | $18.72 | $38,940 | $16.60 to $23.73 | 9,180 |
| Maryland | $17.61 | $36,620 | $15.31 to $23.29 | 40,390 |
| Massachusetts | $21.91 | $45,580 | $16.97 to $28.78 | 55,490 |
| Michigan | $17.33 | $36,050 | $14.11 to $22.17 | 65,790 |
| Minnesota | $19.04 | $39,610 | $14.79 to $25.25 | 42,300 |
| Mississippi | $13.64 | $28,380 | $10.33 to $18.36 | 15,940 |
| Missouri | $17.26 | $35,900 | $14.11 to $22.28 | 41,070 |
| Montana | $17.84 | $37,110 | $13.76 to $23.29 | 8,320 |
| Nebraska | $17.26 | $35,900 | $14.39 to $22.18 | 12,860 |
| Nevada | $18.47 | $38,420 | $13.16 to $24.73 | 32,830 |
| New Hampshire | $18.82 | $39,150 | $14.45 to $24.65 | 9,420 |
| New Jersey | $18.09 | $37,630 | $15.54 to $24.36 | 67,660 |
| New Mexico | $17.32 | $36,020 | $13.98 to $21.65 | 14,360 |
| New York | $20.02 | $41,640 | $16.61 to $29.73 | 195,250 |
| North Carolina | $16.59 | $34,500 | $12.37 to $20.40 | 53,330 |
| North Dakota | $18.15 | $37,750 | $14.81 to $24.08 | 6,720 |
| Ohio | $17.26 | $35,900 | $13.68 to $23.30 | 72,540 |
| Oklahoma | $14.96 | $31,110 | $11.12 to $19.64 | 23,620 |
| Oregon | $18.92 | $39,340 | $16.14 to $26.44 | 25,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.56 | $36,520 | $13.49 to $23.19 | 86,920 |
| Rhode Island | $17.94 | $37,310 | $15.11 to $24.54 | 7,270 |
| South Carolina | $14.99 | $31,180 | $11.29 to $20.05 | 30,100 |
| South Dakota | $17.06 | $35,480 | $13.93 to $21.51 | 8,630 |
| Tennessee | $16.08 | $33,440 | $12.85 to $21.96 | 38,120 |
| Texas | $15.87 | $33,010 | $11.28 to $22.09 | 184,840 |
| Utah | $15.48 | $32,200 | $12.10 to $22.52 | 24,710 |
| Vermont | $19.67 | $40,910 | $16.02 to $25.00 | 5,130 |
| Virginia | $16.91 | $35,170 | $13.60 to $22.71 | 65,970 |
| Washington | $21.89 | $45,520 | $17.82 to $29.58 | 47,380 |
| West Virginia | $14.90 | $30,980 | $11.25 to $21.49 | 9,340 |
| Wisconsin | $17.79 | $37,000 | $14.23 to $22.88 | 45,640 |
| Wyoming | $17.33 | $36,050 | $13.90 to $22.26 | 4,760 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 37-2011, janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $17.71, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $101.69 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.
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