Custodian demographics and statistics in the US
Custodian demographics research summary. Zippia estimates custodian demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our custodian estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about custodians after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,369,818 custodians currently employed in the United States.
- 35.6% of all custodians are women, while 64.4% are men.
- The average custodian age is 48 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of custodians is White (55.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (24.1%), Black or African American (10.4%) and Asian (5.0%).
- Custodians are most in-demand in Austin, TX.
- San Jose, CA pays an annual average wage of $38,293, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women custodians earned 93% of what men earned.
- Rhode Island is the best state for custodians to live.
- Custodians are 53% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Custodian demographics by:
Custodian gender statistics
35.6% of custodians are women and 64.4% of custodians are men.
- Male, 64.4%
- Female, 35.6%
Custodian gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 64.4% |
| Female | 35.6% |
Custodian gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$30,851
Female income
$28,588
Custodian gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in custodian positions over time. Currently, 35.6% of custodians are female.
Custodian gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.31% | 31.69% |
| 2011 | 67.97% | 32.03% |
| 2012 | 67.53% | 32.47% |
| 2013 | 68.50% | 31.50% |
| 2014 | 68.99% | 31.01% |
| 2015 | 66.49% | 33.51% |
| 2016 | 66.77% | 33.23% |
| 2017 | 67.55% | 32.45% |
| 2018 | 67.72% | 32.28% |
| 2019 | 65.05% | 34.95% |
| 2020 | 63.60% | 36.40% |
| 2021 | 64.41% | 35.59% |
Custodian related jobs gender ratio
We compared custodians with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, duct cleaner and floor polisher have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Maid Supervisor | 6% | 94% |
| Maid Housekeeper | 9% | 91% |
| Chambermaid | 9% | 91% |
| Custodian | 64% | 36% |
| Rug Cleaner | 97% | 3% |
| Floor Polisher | 97% | 3% |
| Duct Cleaner | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Custodian demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among custodians is White, which makes up 55.0% of all custodians. Comparatively, 24.1% of custodians are Hispanic or Latino and 10.4% of custodians are Black or African American.
- White, 55.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 24.1%
- Black or African American, 10.4%
- Asian, 5.0%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
Custodian race
| Custodian race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24.1% |
| Black or African American | 10.4% |
| Asian | 5.0% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.4% |
Custodian race and ethnicity over time
See how custodian racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Custodian race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.57% | 11.88% | 4.68% | 20.05% |
| 2011 | 59.28% | 13.02% | 4.55% | 19.92% |
| 2012 | 59.72% | 12.26% | 4.46% | 20.06% |
| 2013 | 60.10% | 11.82% | 4.46% | 20.43% |
| 2014 | 60.25% | 11.57% | 4.59% | 20.34% |
| 2015 | 59.73% | 11.19% | 4.75% | 21.24% |
| 2016 | 59.60% | 11.33% | 4.53% | 21.34% |
| 2017 | 59.63% | 10.57% | 4.73% | 21.68% |
| 2018 | 60.29% | 10.07% | 4.88% | 21.49% |
| 2019 | 59.42% | 10.43% | 4.97% | 22.11% |
| 2020 | 57.13% | 9.96% | 5.14% | 22.19% |
| 2021 | 55.05% | 10.39% | 5.04% | 24.11% |
Custodian wage gap by race
According to our data, asian custodians have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american custodians have the lowest average salary at $30,143.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $30,811 |
| White | $31,218 |
| Black or African American | $30,143 |
| Asian | $31,375 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $30,721 |
Average custodian age
See how the average age of custodians varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Custodian age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 52 | 51 |
| Unknown | 47 | 48 |
| Asian | 54 | 56 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 49 | 49 |
| White | 52 | 53 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 52 | 42.5 |
Custodian age breakdown
The average age of custodians is 40+ years years old, representing 75% of the custodian population.
Custodian age breakdown
| Custodian Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 75% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Custodian educational attainment
The most common degree for custodians is high school diploma, with 48% of custodians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 17% and bachelor's degree degree at 17%.
- High School Diploma, 48%
- Bachelor's, 17%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Custodians by degree level
| Custodian degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 48% |
| Bachelor's | 17% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Custodian jobs you might like
Custodian wage gap by degree level
According to the data, custodians with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $31,978 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, custodians earn a median annual income of $31,223 compared to $31,044 for custodians with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $31,044 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,223 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $31,978 |
Custodian employment statistics
Most custodians work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where custodians work
Below, you can see the size of companies where custodians work.
Custodian jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 33% |
| > 10,000 employees | 18% |
Custodian jobs by company type
Employees with the custodian job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most custodians prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Custodian jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 53% |
| Public | 9% |
| Private | 34% |
| Government | 5% |
Custodian jobs by industry
The most common industries for custodians are education, manufacturing and professional.
Custodian industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 48% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Government | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
Custodian turnover and employment statistics
Custodian unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for custodians between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Custodian unemployment rate by year
| Year | Custodian unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11.07% |
| 2011 | 10.58% |
| 2012 | 10.07% |
| 2013 | 8.55% |
| 2014 | 7.87% |
| 2015 | 6.45% |
| 2016 | 5.87% |
| 2017 | 5.84% |
| 2018 | 5.54% |
| 2019 | 4.76% |
| 2020 | 6.64% |
| 2021 | 6.47% |
Average custodian tenure
The average custodian stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 91,846 custodians resumes in Zippia's database.
Custodian tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 29% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Custodian LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of custodians that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Termite Supervisor | 2.07% | 2,865 |
| Golf Course Superintendent | 2.17% | 12,772 |
| Trimmer | 3.47% | 2,023 |
| Housekeeper, Cleaning, Cooking | 4.45% | 53,419 |
| Custodian | 5.14% | - |
| Spray Technician | 5.27% | 30,432 |
| Housekeeping Manager | 7.41% | 30,854 |
Similar custodian jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Termite Supervisor | 2.07% | 2,865 |
| Golf Course Superintendent | 2.17% | 12,772 |
| Trimmer | 3.47% | 2,023 |
| Housekeeper, Cleaning, Cooking | 4.45% | 53,419 |
| Spray Technician | 5.27% | 30,432 |
| Housekeeping Manager | 7.41% | 30,854 |
Foreign languages spoken by custodians
The most common foreign language among custodians is Spanish at 73.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.0% and German is the third-most popular at 2.7%.
- Spanish, 73.9%
- French, 5.0%
- German, 2.7%
- Polish, 2.1%
- Japanese, 2.0%
- Other, 14.3%
Custodian languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 73.9% |
| French | 5.0% |
| German | 2.7% |
| Polish | 2.1% |
| Japanese | 2.0% |
| Other | 14.3% |
