Custodian worker vs professional cleaner

The differences between custodian workers and professional cleaners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a custodian worker has an average salary of $28,309, which is higher than the $27,268 average annual salary of a professional cleaner.

The top three skills for a custodian worker include wax floors, cleanliness and scrubbers. The most important skills for a professional cleaner are building floors, clean bathrooms, and clean windows.

Custodian worker vs professional cleaner overview

	Custodian Worker	Professional Cleaner
Yearly salary	$28,309	$27,268
Hourly rate	$13.61	$13.11
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	102,181	119,875
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	-	-

Custodian worker vs professional cleaner salary

Custodian workers and professional cleaners have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Custodian Worker	Professional Cleaner
Average salary	$28,309	$27,268
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $36,000	Between $20,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Schenectady, NY	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	New York	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Idyllwild Arts	Vacation
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Manufacturing

Differences between custodian worker and professional cleaner education

There are a few differences between a custodian worker and a professional cleaner in terms of educational background:

	Custodian Worker	Professional Cleaner
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Custodian worker vs professional cleaner demographics

Here are the differences between custodian workers' and professional cleaners' demographics:

	Custodian Worker	Professional Cleaner
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%	Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.7% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between custodian worker and professional cleaner duties and responsibilities

Custodian worker example responsibilities.

Operate auto scrubbers, vacuums, and wet/dry extractors to mop, strip, wax, and buff floors.
Inspect assigned work locations to ensure cleanliness and organization.
Perform mechanical repairs and services to plumbing, electrical, mechanical systems and large rotating equipment including refrigeration systems.
Clean and disinfect lavatory areas including sinks, urinals and toilets using appropriate cleaning solutions.
Operate buffers and burnishers to strip, wax and buff floors and corridors in various facilities.

Professional cleaner example responsibilities.

Supervise and train maids in their cleaning duties to ensure company standards of cleanliness are achieved.
Assist in cleaning restroom facilities including cleaning toilets, urinals, sinks, and mopping floors.
Execute commercial building following safety awareness to maintain cleanliness and neatness of working area and premises.
Sweep mop sanitize and disinfect surfaces dust buff floors clean restrooms basements clean out stoves and refrigerators etc

Custodian worker vs professional cleaner skills

Common custodian worker skills

WAX Floors, 15%
Cleanliness, 11%
Scrubbers, 8%
Window Sills, 6%
Class Rooms, 6%
Taking Care, 5%

Common professional cleaner skills

Building Floors, 25%
Clean Bathrooms, 16%
Clean Windows, 13%
Office Buildings, 9%
Light Fixtures, 6%
Commercial Cleaning, 4%

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Building and Grounds Maintenance Industry
Custodian Worker
Custodian Worker vs Professional Cleaner

Updated January 8, 2025

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