How to hire a cleaner/shifter

How to hire a cleaner/shifter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cleaner/shifter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cleaner/shifter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cleaner/shifter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cleaner/shifter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cleaner/shifter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cleaner/shifter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a cleaner/shifter to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a cleaner/shifter that fits the bill.

   This list presents cleaner/shifter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cleaner/Shifter	Description	Hourly rate
   Cleaner/Shifter	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$11-19
   Floor Staff	The duties of floor staff depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In restaurants and similar establishments, floor staff is in charge of performing support tasks for the wait staff... Show more	$10-24
   Custodian	A custodian, also referred to as janitor, is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and helping protect all facilities. Custodians make sure everything is clean, neat, in order, and free from clutter and safe... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Clean Windows
   • Office Space
   • Exterior Surfaces
   • Clean Rooms

   Responsibilities:

   • Execute commercial building following safety awareness to maintain cleanliness and neatness of working area and premises.
   • Clean multiple commercial building using industrialize buffers, scrubbers and/or vacuum equipment.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cleaner/shifter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A cleaner/shifter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a cleaner/shifter in North Carolina may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level cleaner/shifter usually earns less than a senior-level cleaner/shifter. Additionally, a cleaner/shifter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average cleaner/shifter salary

   $15.15hourly

   $31,510 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cleaner/shifter salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average cleaner/shifter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$39,669	$19
   2	Washington	$38,866	$19
   3	California	$36,635	$18
   4	Minnesota	$35,445	$17
   5	New Jersey	$34,702	$17
   6	Illinois	$32,231	$16
   7	Rhode Island	$31,818	$15
   8	Wisconsin	$31,798	$15
   9	Arizona	$31,303	$15
   10	Oregon	$29,811	$14
   11	Missouri	$28,644	$14
   12	Ohio	$28,596	$14
   13	Indiana	$28,456	$14
   14	Michigan	$28,274	$14
   15	Iowa	$27,984	$13
   16	Texas	$27,469	$13
   17	Utah	$26,521	$13
   18	Kentucky	$26,511	$13
   19	Georgia	$24,707	$12
   20	Idaho	$24,644	$12

   Average cleaner/shifter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AMETEK	$53,525	$25.73
   2	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$41,417	$19.91
   3	Federal Signal	$40,804	$19.62
   4	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$39,125	$18.81
   5	Haynes International	$36,321	$17.46	3
   6	Miami Valley Gaming	$36,298	$17.45	1
   7	Velociti	$36,037	$17.33
   8	United Natural Foods	$35,836	$17.23
   9	East Penn Manufacturing	$35,448	$17.04
   10	Ingles Markets	$35,102	$16.88	1
   11	ETE REMAN	$34,673	$16.67
   12	Athens Services	$34,515	$16.59	3
   13	Remedy Intelligent Staffing	$33,945	$16.32
   14	Citizens Financial Group	$33,637	$16.17
   15	Raising Cane's	$33,486	$16.10
   16	Grandville Public Schools	$33,031	$15.88
   17	Citizens Bank of Amsterdam	$32,852	$15.79
   18	Penn National Gaming	$32,577	$15.66
   19	Horizon Services	$32,434	$15.59	3
   20	Alene Candles	$32,358	$15.56

4. Writing a cleaner/shifter job description

   A cleaner/shifter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a cleaner/shifter job description:

   Cleaner/shifter job description example

   Set Up and Operate the Automated Line Equipment and Process Cycles: Strip Cleaning Cycle Wash and Spin Dry Cycle 300 Series Passivation Cycle 410 Passivation Cycle Shoulder Bolt Passivation Cycle
   PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
   Productivity
   Set Up and operation of Automated Line for each Process Cycle by using a touch screen interface and hand-held hoist controller. Load product into process barrels and keeps the line loaded with no empties unless working by yourself. Troubleshoot operation of the automatic hoists. Inform maintenance staff / Supervisor if needed. Unload fasteners from barrels into spin dryer baskets for drying. Responsible for legible completion and signing of DTU cards and using accurate codes. Stage parts in the correct staging area. Quality Check process tank baths for concentration and preforms addition as needed. Documents all chemicals used on the automated line at the time of the adds. Perform visual checks on product during unloading for cleanliness issues causing rework. Before reworking looks for root cause of quality issue. Preforms mixed part checks of barrels, loaders and spin dryer baskets between product loads. Monitors product for shavings and sending this product back to Vibe washer. Notifies shift supervisor of any mixed parts issues and scrap issues. Be knowledgeable in ISO14001 requirements. Communicate all necessary information at shift change. Record date for SPC and IATF16949 documentation.
   Boiler Operation Be Operator Boiler Certified. Keep Boiler chemical at adequate levels. Start up and shut down of Automated Line Boiler.
   Maintenance and Housekeeping Automated line housekeeping that includes on-going and weekly cleaning of floors and equipment. Maintains oil skimmers and preforms filter changes.
   
   Performs duties as requested by Supervisor or Leadperson.
   
   RCRA (Resource Conservation Recovery Act) COMPLIANCE Generate hazardous waste when operating equipment. Transport hazardous waste and/or non-hazardous waste storage area.
   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
   
   Required Skills/Knowledge:
   High School Diploma or GED.
   Knowledge of air and water quality to ensure proper specifications are met.
   
   Basic math skills (add, subtract, multiply and divide).
   
   Good mechanical ability, troubleshooting skills and problem-solving skills.
   
   Teamwork and communication skills.
   
   Willingness and ability to follow all safety rules.
   
   Knowledge in ISO14001 requirements.
   Preferred:
   Knowledge of Electropolish and Passivate processes.
   Personal computer knowledge.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find cleaner/shifters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any cleaner/shifters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level cleaner/shifters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cleaner/shifter job on Zippia to find and recruit cleaner/shifter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cleaner/shifters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cleaner/shifter

   Once you've found the cleaner/shifter candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cleaner/shifter?