Career comparison
Building Maintenance Technician vs. Janitor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Building maintenance technicians earn more at the median ($49,590 vs. $36,840), while janitors usually get to work faster (A few days on the job of training). Building maintenance technicians keep apartments, offices, schools and facilities running with everyday repairs. Janitors clean and maintain schools, offices, hospitals and buildings.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Building Maintenance Technician | Janitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $49,590 ($23.84/hr) | $36,840 ($17.71/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,350 – $77,180 | $28,640 – $50,270 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.2% (about as fast as average) | +2.2% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 148,700 | 321,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 3–12 months on the job | A few days on the job |
| Key credential | EPA Section 608 certification | Bloodborne pathogens training |
| Work setting | Technicians work in apartment communities, schools, hospitals, hotels, offices and plants. | Janitors work in schools, offices, hospitals and factories.. |
What each job does
Building Maintenance Technician
- Respond to work orders and repair requests
- Repair plumbing fixtures, leaks and drains
- Replace lights, switches and outlets within allowed scope
- Service HVAC equipment and change filters
- Patch drywall, paint and repair doors and locks
Janitor
- Clean restrooms
- Mop and vacuum
- Empty trash
- Disinfect surfaces
- Strip and wax floors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, working independently, and in-demand. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and hospitality, food & tourism, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and reliability.
Which should you choose?
Choose building maintenance technician if…
- I like fixing many kinds of things
- I enjoy a different task every hour
- I’m comfortable with plumbing, electrical and carpentry basics
Choose janitor if…
- I like seeing clean results
- I work well alone
- I don’t mind nights
Still torn? Take the Building Maintenance Technician fit quiz and the Janitor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, building maintenance technician or janitor?
Building Maintenance Technicians earn more at the median: $49,590 versus $36,840 for janitors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Janitors typically train faster (A few days on the job) than building maintenance technicians (3–12 months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects building maintenance technicians to grow +4.2% from 2025–35, compared with +2.2% for janitors.