How to hire a custodian

How to hire a custodian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step custodian hiring guide:

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

What does a custodian do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the custodian you need to hire. Certain custodian roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 custodian 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 custodian that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of custodians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Custodian	Description	Hourly rate
   Custodian	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$11-18
   Day Porter	Day porters are skilled employees who are responsible for conducting daily building maintenance at a facility to ensure it looks neat and presentable to the public. These porters are required to clean all common room areas such as the kitchen, cafeteria, and lobby as well as prepare conference rooms before and after meetings... Show more	$10-17
   Environmental Services Aide	An environmental services aide is responsible for supporting the community programs and efforts for nature sustainability and assisting the citizens with their needs and concerns. Environmental services aides are also usually employed in health care centers to help patients and maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities... Show more	$12-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Work Ethic
   • Customer Service
   • Building Floors
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Ladders
   • Class Rooms
   • Dryers
   • Floor Care
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Compassion
   • Dexterity
   • Clean Windows
   • Snow Removal

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate janitorial equipment including: vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, carpet cleaners, presser washers, leaf blowers, etc.
   • Fill in for custodians when they need off, clean schools, mow grass, salt lots.
   • Rake leaves, cut and water grass.
   • Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, with sponges, or squeegees.
   • Strip and wax floors, clean windows, replace burnt-out light bulbs and ballasts.
   • Clean and perform preventative maintenance on all mechanical equipment (HVAC & ventilation systems).

   More custodian duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your custodian job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A custodian can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, custodians' average salary in louisiana is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level custodians 41% less than senior-level custodians.
   • Certifications. A custodian with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a custodian's salary.

   Average custodian salary

   $14.51hourly

   $30,176 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level custodian salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average custodian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$38,293	$18
   2	Massachusetts	$37,766	$18
   3	Washington	$37,027	$18
   4	New York	$34,618	$17
   5	Minnesota	$34,340	$17
   6	Maine	$33,167	$16
   7	Oregon	$32,529	$16
   8	North Dakota	$30,911	$15
   9	Montana	$30,062	$14
   10	Illinois	$29,986	$14
   11	Maryland	$29,934	$14
   12	Michigan	$29,581	$14
   13	Colorado	$29,561	$14
   14	Nevada	$29,428	$14
   15	Pennsylvania	$29,092	$14
   16	Wisconsin	$29,016	$14
   17	Iowa	$28,594	$14
   18	Arizona	$26,980	$13
   19	Ohio	$26,494	$13
   20	Nebraska	$26,353	$13

   Average custodian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$52,921	$25.44
   2	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$52,558	$25.27
   3	Sandia National Labs	$46,519	$22.36	1
   4	Mt. San Antonio College	$45,528	$21.89	2
   5	Boston Public Schools	$42,880	$20.62	1
   6	The Juilliard School	$42,023	$20.20	3
   7	Grand Ledge High School	$41,998	$20.19	1
   8	Central Valley School District	$41,284	$19.85
   9	George Mc Parland Elementary	$41,080	$19.75
   10	City of Jacksonville	$40,912	$19.67
   11	Contra Costa College	$40,735	$19.58
   12	Dublin City Schools	$40,232	$19.34	5
   13	Endicott College	$40,143	$19.30
   14	Kemps	$40,060	$19.26
   15	Madera High School	$39,827	$19.15	1
   16	Long Beach City College	$39,729	$19.10
   17	University of California-Berkeley	$39,694	$19.08	8
   18	Dairy Farmers of America	$39,602	$19.04	6
   19	The Road Home	$39,336	$18.91	2
   20	Seattle Pacific University	$38,985	$18.74

4. Writing a custodian job description

   A job description for a custodian role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a custodian job description:

   Custodian job description example

   Hiring Immediately: Full-time Custodian in Memphis, TN
   
   Join the nation’s largest, privately-owned freight carrier as a maintenance technician. Based in Memphis, TN terminal, this role manages property maintenance and landscaping, light carpentry, welding, cutting, plumbing, painting and repairs.
   
   Pay & Benefits for Memphis, TN Full-time Custodian:
   Starting hourly rate of $19.85/hr to $22.60/hr Two weeks paid time off plus holidays 401(k) plan with company match Medical, dental, and vision insurance Short- and long-term disability plans Life and AD&D insurance Employee disaster relief fund Financial wellness program Employee discount benefit program Long-term career growth opportunities Estes values a diverse workforce and affirmatively promotes a company culture that embraces the concept that outcomes are improved when our workforce is made up of people with different viewpoints. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Come find your new career at Work4Estes.com! Applications are accepted online only through this website. If you need an accommodation to apply, call the number on the website. By submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read our privacy policy available at www.estes-express.com/privacy-policy, and consent to receive communications from Estes Express Lines, including but not limited to email and SMS messaging. Message and data rates may apply. Company DescriptionAt Estes Express Lines, we’ve long recognized the importance of our behind-the-wheel professionals. In fact, we were founded in 1931—in the midst of the Great Depression—as a one-man-one-truck operation. Today, Estes is the largest, privately held less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier in North America, with an employee base of more than 16,000 professionals and an increasingly newer fleet of nearly 7,100 tractors.
   
   Over the last 85 years, our network has grown to more than 200 terminals plus coverage in all 50 states, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
   
   Why Choose Estes?
   As an Estes driver, you can expect:
   
   • Family-Friendly Schedules
   • Competitive Pay and Incentives
   • Comprehensive Benefits
   • New Model Trucks with the Latest Safety Technology
   • Training Opportunities for Career Growth
   • Company Stability with over 200 Terminal Locations
   
   Our mission at Estes is to deliver solutions that exceed our customers’ highest expectations. That’s why we believe in hiring and retaining the best talent. We’re looking for a variety of professionals—from mechanics, drivers, office personnel to dockworkers—to join our team.
   
   For information about our career opportunities, please visit www.work4estes.com.
   EOE/Vets/Disabled

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right custodian for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting custodians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 custodian

   Once you have selected a candidate for the custodian position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   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 custodian?