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The differences between industrial cleaners and custodians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a custodian has an average salary of $30,176, which is higher than the $28,367 average annual salary of an industrial cleaner.
The top three skills for an industrial cleaner include industrial cleaning, building floors and safety procedures. The most important skills for a custodian are cleanliness, work ethic, and customer service.
| Industrial Cleaner | Custodian | |
| Yearly salary | $28,367 | $30,176 |
| Hourly rate | $13.64 | $14.51 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 79,374 | 47,364 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Although often seen as insignificant and overlooked, cleaners are a major part of any industry. An industrial cleaner generally ensures that a work environment is conducive for the staff working in the building. They typically clean bathrooms, floors, tiles, carpets, desks, and other specific areas using various cleaning equipment, such as mops and vacuum cleaners. They are also tasked with the prompt removal and disposal of wastebaskets. Cleaning tasks might have to be repeated several times during the day, depending on organizational instructions.
A custodian, also referred to as janitor, is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and helping protect all facilities. Custodians make sure everything is clean, neat, in order, and free from clutter and safe. They perform routine maintenance tasks and heavy cleaning duties. They do everyday things to sweep floors, mop, scrub, vacuum, collect and empty trash, dust furniture, walls, and equipment. They mix solutions and chemicals in containers based on proportions for disinfecting windows, mirrors, and other partitions requiring cleaning. Some also do minor building maintenance and light repairs, while others are exposed to biohazardous materials.
Industrial cleaners and custodians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Cleaner | Custodian | |
| Average salary | $28,367 | $30,176 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $23,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Star Tribune | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Education |
There are a few differences between an industrial cleaner and a custodian in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Cleaner | Custodian | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between industrial cleaners' and custodians' demographics:
| Industrial Cleaner | Custodian | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.8% Female, 37.2% | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 4.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 5.0% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |