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What is a custodian/substitute custodian and how to become one
Wherever there are people, there will be dirt. A custodian/substitute custodian knows this better than anyone. Their job is to keep buildings clean and maintained, especially buildings with lots of people going in and out. They can work for schools, churches, offices, and even museums.
The custodian/substitute custodian spends most of their day cleaning. They need to have the physical stamina to operate cleaning equipment and know how to use various cleaning substances--if they mix the wrong ones, they can accidentally make poisonous gas. They also perform various other tasks, like setting up for events and testing emergency systems.
In their role as a substitute custodian, the custodian/substitute custodian is like a pinch hitter who fills in for any missing colleagues. Basically, the custodian/substitute custodian takes care of building emergencies before they happen and maintain a clean, safe working environment. Most buildings would be lost without them.
Avg. Salary $30,974
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.31%
Asian 4.94%
Black or African American 7.77%
Hispanic or Latino 26.72%
Unknown 4.11%
White 55.15%
Genderfemale 31.23%
male 68.77%
Age - 51American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 51Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Custodian/substitute custodian career paths
Key steps to become a custodian/substitute custodian
Explore custodian/substitute custodian education requirements
Start to develop specific custodian/substitute custodian skills
Skills Percentages Ladders 7.74% Hallways 7.38% Minor Maintenance 7.29% Cleanliness 5.78% Hand Tools 5.07% Complete relevant custodian/substitute custodian training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New custodians/substitute custodians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a custodian/substitute custodian based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real custodian/substitute custodian resumes.Research custodian/substitute custodian duties and responsibilities
- Clean all areas of the school by emptying trash, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing bathroom fixtures and using floor scrubbers.
- Light grounds keeping including mowing, trimming, and pruning.
- Job duties include all aspects of custodial work, electrical and plumbing.
- Clean all bathrooms including disinfecting stalls, urinals, toilets, and sinks.
Prepare your custodian/substitute custodian resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your custodian/substitute custodian resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a custodian/substitute custodian resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable custodian/substitute custodian resume templates
Build a professional custodian/substitute custodian resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your custodian/substitute custodian resume.
Apply for custodian/substitute custodian jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a custodian/substitute custodian job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first custodian/substitute custodian job
Are you a custodian/substitute custodian?
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Average custodian/substitute custodian salary
The average custodian/substitute custodian salary in the United States is $30,974 per year or $15 per hour. Custodian/substitute custodian salaries range between $24,000 and $39,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do custodians/substitute custodians rate their job?
Custodian/substitute custodian reviews
Cleaning really sucks also not very good pay
You get a job which gets you money
The finishing product
Was not much that I didn’t like .Working on my own didn’t bother me,was always interested in cleaning
The people I work for.
The scarcity of businesses willing to pay someone to work for them. Custodial work is an honest way of making a living.
Updated January 8, 2025
