Hiring guide · Hospitality, Food & Tourism
How to Hire a Janitor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring janitors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $36,840), recruit through culinary and hospitality school career centers, verify Bloodborne pathogens training where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for janitors
There are about 2,432,600 janitors employed in the U.S., with roughly 321,800 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.2% from 2025–35 (slower than average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $28,640–$32,240 | $13.77–$15.50 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $50,270 | $24.17 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- No formal educational credential (typical entry level)
- Cleaning methods
- Reliability
Nice-to-haves
- Bloodborne pathogens training
- Chemical safety training
- Floor care training
- Experience with mops
Where to find janitors
- Culinary and hospitality school career centers
- Local job fairs and workforce programs
- Employee referral bonuses
- Internal promotion from entry-level roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Custodian, Cleaner, Building Cleaner, Environmental Services Worker
Screening checklist
- Food handler or ServSafe certification where required
- Responsible alcohol-service certification for bar staff
- Working interview or stage (trial shift) for kitchen roles
- Availability for nights, weekends and holidays
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Have you cleaned before?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
2. “Can you work nights?”
What a strong answer includes: Answer.
3. “Do you work well alone?”
What a strong answer includes: Answer.
4. “How do you stay safe with chemicals?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
5. “Are you reliable?”
What a strong answer includes: Answer.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Clean a Restroom Thoroughly (see the steps)
- Strip and Wax a Floor (see the steps)
- Clean Faster Without Cutting Corners (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as SDS, Dwell time, Color coding
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Janitor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Janitor training. Show them the path forward: Janitor → Lead Custodian → Custodial Supervisor → Facilities Manager.
Hiring janitors: FAQ
How much should I pay a janitor?
The U.S. median wage for janitors is $36,840 per year ($17.71/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($32,240), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($44,060). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a janitor have?
BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Bloodborne pathogens training and Chemical safety training where relevant, plus skills such as cleaning methods, floor care, and chemical use.
How long does it take to train a new janitor?
Becoming qualified typically takes A few days on the job. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “short-term on-the-job training.”