How to hire a custodian/substitute custodian

How to hire a custodian/substitute custodian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step custodian/substitute 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/substitute custodian job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new custodian/substitute custodian
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a custodian/substitute custodian do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a custodian/substitute custodian, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect custodian/substitute custodian also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Custodian/Substitute Custodian	Description	Hourly rate
   Custodian/Substitute Custodian	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$11-18
   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
   Janitor	Janitors are primarily responsible for maintaining the sanitation and cleanliness of the workspace. They are in charge of sweeping and mopping floors, wiping surfaces, and ensuring that the area they are assigned to is properly sanitized... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Ladders
   • Hallways
   • Minor Maintenance
   • Cleanliness
   • Hand Tools
   • General Maintenance
   • Building Maintenance
   • Fire Hazards
   • Scrubbers
   • Polish Furniture
   • Restroom Facilities
   • Office Space
   • Clean Classrooms
   • Safety Hazards

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Perform basic maintenance of furniture, playground equipment, plumbing and electrical as needed.
   • Perform grounds maintenance tasks, such as removing snow, weed whacking and mowing the lawn.

   More custodian/substitute custodian duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your custodian/substitute custodian job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A custodian/substitute custodian 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 custodian/substitute custodian in Idaho may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level custodian/substitute custodian usually earns less than a senior-level custodian/substitute custodian. Additionally, a custodian/substitute custodian 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 custodian/substitute custodian salary

   $14.89hourly

   $30,974 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level custodian/substitute custodian salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average custodian/substitute custodian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$36,561	$18
   2	New York	$35,620	$17
   3	Washington	$34,145	$16
   4	Connecticut	$30,359	$15
   5	Oregon	$30,075	$14
   6	Pennsylvania	$27,708	$13
   7	Maryland	$27,464	$13
   8	Montana	$24,928	$12
   9	Idaho	$22,729	$11
   10	New Mexico	$21,909	$11
   11	Louisiana	$18,285	$9

   Average custodian/substitute custodian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mt. San Antonio College	$46,383	$22.30
   2	Grand Ledge High School	$41,561	$19.98
   3	Central Valley School District	$40,962	$19.69	3
   4	Contra Costa College	$40,449	$19.45
   5	Fremont Public Schools	$40,363	$19.41	4
   6	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$39,314	$18.90
   7	Jefferson Elementary School District	$38,972	$18.74	3
   8	Lafayette School District	$38,937	$18.72	2
   9	Solana Beach School District	$38,379	$18.45
   10	Andover Public Schools	$38,053	$18.29	18
   11	Madison High School	$37,893	$18.22	7
   12	Campbell Union High School District	$37,762	$18.15	7
   13	Oak Grove School	$37,607	$18.08	1
   14	West Contra Costa Unified School District	$37,457	$18.01	7
   15	Region 14 Education Service Center	$37,382	$17.97	1
   16	Tustin Unified School District	$37,355	$17.96	5
   17	La Cañada Unified School District	$37,274	$17.92
   18	Alameda Unified	$37,027	$17.80
   19	Naperville School District 203	$36,943	$17.76	18
   20	Pioneer High School	$36,908	$17.74	1

4. Writing a custodian/substitute custodian job description

   A custodian/substitute custodian 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. Below, you can find an example of a custodian/substitute custodian job description:

   Custodian/substitute custodian job description example

   + + Position Type:
   
   Substitutes/ Substitute
   
   + Date Posted:
   
   6/3/2022
   
   + Location:
   
   Substitute Location
   
   + Date Available:
   
   07/01/2022
   
   Job Code: Substitute - 004002 Standard Hours: 10 Department: Substitute - 101180 Empl Class: NA
   
   License and Certification Qualifications: None required.
   
   Education Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. Current high school students enrolled in a Gwinnett County Public School high school are exempt from the educational requirement.
   
   Experience Qualifications: Industrial or commercial cleaning experience preferred.
   
   Skills Qualifications: Ability to learn and willingness to perform proficiently the custodial care skills and tasks of the Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Custodial Care Program and other general custodial practices; ability to hear, understand, and follow oral instructions given in the English language; ability to read, understand, and follow written instructions in the English language at a minimum 6th grade level, such as safety instructions, use and disposal instructions on custodial product labels, GCPS Custodial Toolbox training materials, and other forms, documents, or notes provided by the supervisor or other designated supervisory staff; and ability to work effectively as part of an assigned custodial team.
   
   Primary Responsibilities: Responsible for maintaining assigned areas of school facilities in a clean, sanitary, and orderly condition, performing duties according to the GCPS Custodial Care Program and as instructed by the designated supervisory staff.
   
   1. Perform assigned cleaning and other custodial care tasks of the GCPS Custodial Care Program that are on the schedule provided by the designated supervisor in a proficient manner.
   
   2. Utilize only appropriate chemicals, supplies, and equipment, which have been approved for useaccording to GCPS Policies and Procedures, to perform assigned custodial care tasks.
   
   3. Maintain custodial care tools and equipment in a clean, sanitary, and safe working condition according to instructions and guidelines of the GCPS Custodial Care Program.
   
   4. Open and secure assigned facilities or grounds areas at the time(s) instructed by the designatedsupervisory staff.
   
   5. Suggest alternate cleaning practices, products, tools, or equipment for the GCPS Custodial CareProgram and assist the Environmental Services Department in related evaluations to identify those thatare more efficient or effective.
   
   6. Maintain appropriate, positive, and cooperative working relationships with team members, assignedfacility staff, and other GCPS employees in all work related interactions.
   
   7. Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   Physical Demands:
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to touch, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right custodian/substitute custodian for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with custodians/substitute custodians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit custodians/substitute custodians who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit custodians/substitute custodians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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/substitute custodian

   Once you've decided on a perfect custodian/substitute custodian candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new custodian/substitute custodian. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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