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The differences between janitors and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a security guard has an average salary of $31,983, which is higher than the $27,954 average annual salary of a janitor.
The top three skills for a janitor include building floors, cleanliness and patients. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.
| Janitor | Security Guard | |
| Yearly salary | $27,954 | $31,983 |
| Hourly rate | $13.44 | $15.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 57,146 | 101,728 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.67 | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 49 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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. They manage the inventory of supplies and ensure that they would never run out of cleaning supplies by properly tracking the usage of each material. Some skilled janitors are also responsible for doing minor repairs to different office equipment and fixtures. They also help in company event setups and cleanups, as well as in liaising tasks that the office might need.
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Janitors and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Janitor | Security Guard | |
| Average salary | $27,954 | $31,983 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lexington, MA | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Argonne National Laboratory | Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a janitor and a security guard in terms of educational background:
| Janitor | Security Guard | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between janitors' and security guards' demographics:
| Janitor | Security Guard | |
| Average age | 49 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.1% Female, 36.9% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 4.4% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |