Custodian Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 27,601 US job postings by 5,827 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for custodians: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 27,601 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for custodians in US job postings is $17.85 an hour (7,088 postings from 1,531 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $16.00 to $20.00 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $18.50 an hour (1,166 postings).
- The skills that most set custodian postings apart are operate cleaning equipment, work independently, handle cleaning supplies.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 1 year of experience.
Custodian job postings in the US, October 2026
- $17.85/hr
- Median advertised pay (7,088 postings)
- $16.00–$20.00
- Middle 50% of postings
- $18.50/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 27,601
- US job postings from 5,827 employers
How much does a custodian make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $17.85 an hour, from 7,088 US job postings by 1,531 employers that state pay. That is about $37,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 7,088 US custodian job postings: median $37,000 a year ($17.85 an hour), middle half $33,000 to $42,000.
- Median: $37,000 ($17.85/hr)
- 25th percentile: $33,000
- 75th percentile: $42,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.4% |
| $20K–$30K | 10.4% |
| $30K–$40K | 54.7% |
| $40K–$50K | 25.4% |
| $50K–$60K | 5.5% |
| $60K–$70K | 1.5% |
| $70K–$80K | 0.8% |
| $80K–$90K | 0.5% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $17.85 | $16.00–$20.00 | 3,748 |
| All pay postings, annualised | $37,000 | $33K–$42K | 7,088 |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (37-2011) at $37,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a custodian?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $18.50 an hour (1,166 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $18.50/hr | 1,166 |
| 2-4 years | $21.00/hr | 276 |
| 5+ years | withheld | 66 |
Highest-paying custodian jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Services Technician | $19.93/hr | 330 | 80 |
| Floor Technician | $18.00/hr | 438 | 143 |
| Custodian (general) | $17.50/hr | 1,558 | 405 |
| Janitor | $16.50/hr | 1,396 | 225 |
| Janitorial | $16.50/hr | 339 | 79 |
| Cleaner | $16.25/hr | 726 | 114 |
Custodian pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $20.76/hr | $18.41–$22.88 | 115 | 1.5% |
| Minnesota | $20.09/hr | $17.75–$22.03 | 134 | 2.0% |
| California | $19.50/hr | $17.90–$23.00 | 378 | 6.9% |
| New York | $19.00/hr | $17.00–$21.51 | 369 | 4.5% |
| Massachusetts | $19.00/hr | $17.00–$21.62 | 129 | 2.0% |
| New Jersey | $18.94/hr | $16.92–$20.42 | 186 | 2.5% |
| Illinois | $18.50/hr | $17.27–$20.65 | 312 | 4.3% |
| Wisconsin | $18.10/hr | $15.50–$21.00 | 120 | 1.9% |
| Arizona | $17.50/hr | $15.40–$19.55 | 141 | 2.2% |
| North Carolina | $17.00/hr | $15.00–$19.05 | 192 | 3.8% |
| Missouri | $17.00/hr | $16.00–$18.57 | 164 | 3.5% |
| Michigan | $17.00/hr | $15.30–$20.00 | 145 | 3.0% |
| Tennessee | $17.00/hr | $15.37–$18.00 | 146 | 2.2% |
| Virginia | $16.96/hr | $15.00–$20.00 | 153 | 3.3% |
| Florida | $16.50/hr | $15.05–$18.88 | 268 | 5.7% |
| Ohio | $16.50/hr | $15.00–$18.53 | 283 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $16.50/hr | $15.43–$18.25 | 268 | 4.7% |
| Indiana | $16.00/hr | $15.00–$18.20 | 149 | 2.6% |
| Alabama | $16.00/hr | $13.50–$16.65 | 108 | 1.6% |
| Texas | $15.65/hr | $13.25–$18.28 | 503 | 8.7% |
| South Carolina | $15.50/hr | $14.75–$19.00 | 119 | 1.9% |
| Georgia | $15.00/hr | $13.25–$18.00 | 146 | 3.4% |
Skills employers ask for in custodian job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Attention to detail | 18% |
| Communication | 16% |
| Work independently | 16% |
| Customer service | 12% |
| Interpersonal skills | 7% |
| Dependable | 7% |
| Organizational skills | 6% |
| Reliable | 5% |
| Self-motivated | 4% |
| Positive attitude | 4% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set custodians apart
- Reliable3.2× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a custodian job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a custodian do?
Employers post these jobs as Substitute Custodian, Janitor, Floor Technician, Floor Tech, Custodial and other titles. The largest specializations are Substitute Custodian (4%), Janitor (19%), Floor Technician (6%), Night Custodian (3%), Cleaner (10%), Head Custodian (3%).
The closest official occupation is Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (37-2011.00). Its most important tasks:
- Service, clean, or supply restrooms.
- Gather and empty trash.
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming.
- Monitor building security and safety by performing tasks such as locking doors after operating hours or checking electrical appliance use to ensure that hazards are not created.
- Notify managers concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a custodian?
Among 2,232 postings that state a minimum, the median is 1 year. 4% say 0 years and 66% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 2,232 US custodian job postings: median 1 year, and 66% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 16% |
| 1 yr | 49% |
| 2 yrs | 19% |
| 3-4 yrs | 10% |
| 5-7 yrs | 4% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | under 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 56%, Part-time 44% of the 2,321 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a custodian: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Custodian | 1,022 (17.5%) |
| Substitute Custodian | 538 (9.2%) |
| Janitor | 530 (9.1%) |
| Floor Technician | 219 (3.8%) |
| Floor Tech | 202 (3.5%) |
| Custodial | 168 (2.9%) |
| Cleaner | 136 (2.3%) |
| Sanitation Technician | 118 (2.0%) |
| Environmental Services Technician | 112 (1.9%) |
| Part-Time Custodian | 106 (1.8%) |
| Head Custodian | 105 (1.8%) |
| Day Porter | 94 (1.6%) |
| Window Cleaner | 90 (1.5%) |
| Lead Custodian | 87 (1.5%) |
| Night Custodian | 87 (1.5%) |
| Substitute Custodians | 82 (1.4%) |
| Custodian I | 76 (1.3%) |
| Sanitation Supervisor | 70 (1.2%) |
| Commercial Cleaner | 70 (1.2%) |
| Custodial Worker | 70 (1.2%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Custodian job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janitor | 2,115 | 530 | $17.75/hr | 1 year | attention to detail, communication, work independently |
| Floor Tech | 510 | 202 | – | – | attention to detail, work independently, communication |
| Floor Technician | 689 | 219 | $17.93/hr | – | attention to detail, work independently, customer service |
Custodian vs Janitor
| Custodian | Janitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 2,246 | 2,115 |
| Employers | 1,022 | 530 |
| Median advertised pay | $17.48/hr | $17.75/hr |
| Median experience asked | – | 1 year |
| Skills that stand out | operate cleaning equipment, handle cleaning supplies, lift heavy equipment | cleaning equipment |
Custodian compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custodian | $17.85/hr | 1 year | 27,601 | – |
| Housekeeper | $17.75/hr | 1 year | 20,700 | 22 |
| Groundskeeper | $19.73/hr | 2 years | 5,631 | 20 |
| Painter | $23.50/hr | 2 years | 3,060 | 17 |
| General Laborer | $20.00/hr | 1 year | 6,220 | 17 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeeper | 22 | $17.75/hr |
| Groundskeeper | 20 | $19.73/hr |
| Painter | 17 | $23.50/hr |
| General Laborer | 17 | $20.00/hr |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 18 | $27.00/hr |
| Dishwasher | 18 | $17.00/hr |
Applying for custodian jobs?
- Custodian resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find custodian jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a custodian make an hour?
How much does a Janitor make?
How much does a Floor Technician make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 38 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 35 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.