How to hire a school janitor

How to hire a school janitor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step school janitor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a school janitor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new school janitor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a school janitor, 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

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   A school janitor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, school janitors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of school janitors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of School Janitor	Description	Hourly rate
   School Janitor	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$11-18
   Porter	A porter is responsible for managing the building's cleanliness and orderliness, together with the cleaning maintenance team. Duties of a porter include ensuring the premises' safety, operating cleaning tools and equipment, and performing basic troubleshooting for defective machines... Show more	$11-17
   Day Porter	Day porters are skilled employees who are responsible for conducting daily building maintenance at a facility to ensure it looks neat and presentable to the public. These porters are required to clean all common room areas such as the kitchen, cafeteria, and lobby as well as prepare conference rooms before and after meetings... Show more	$10-17

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2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Building Floors
   • Commercial Cleaning
   • Clean Classrooms
   • Urinals
   • Class Rooms
   • Clean Restrooms
   • Light Maintenance
   • Squeegees
   • Building Security
   • Sponges
   • Buffing Floors
   • Polish Furniture
   • MOW

   Responsibilities:

   • Mow and trim lawns and shrubbery, using mowers and hand and power trimmers, clear debris from grounds.
   • Disinfect toilets and urinals plus restock paper materials.
   • Maintain working facilities-use floor scrubbers to clean assign areas-Polished floors-cleane bathrooms and take out garbage to maintain a clean environment
   • Mow and trim lawns and shrubbery, using mowers and hand and power trimmers, and clear debris from grounds.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your school janitor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A school janitor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, school janitors' average salary in louisiana is 58% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level school janitors 37% less than senior-level school janitors.
   • Certifications. A school janitor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a school janitor's salary.

   Average school janitor salary

   $14.82hourly

   $30,824 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level school janitor salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a school janitor job description

   A school janitor 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 school janitor job description:

   School janitor job description example

   As a School Janitor with The Menta Group, you will assist the Maintenance Supervisor and School Administration in ensuring the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of Menta properties.
   
   ResponsibilitiesPerform routine, daily cleaning of school surfaces including floors, doors, bathrooms (toilets, sinks, surfaces), desks, tables, chairs, counters, kitchen, and common areas, etc. Work with student(s) in a work-mentor role, teaching them the janitorial trade Refill soap and paper towels in bathrooms and designated areas Empty trash receptacles Keep trash receptacle area outside of the building trash-free Mop floors Clean entryways/seating areas Dust/Wipe fixtures and surfaces including light fixtures and switch plates Report any unusual incidents or safety concerns to the Building Administrator and Maintenance Supervisor.Conduct routine scheduled inspections of premises and equipment.Report need for basic repairs and maintenance to appropriate staff
   
   Qualifications1 to 5 years of experience Must have valid driver's license with good driving record Engage in physical, manual labor Ability to lift 50 pounds Flexibility to schedule and work hours as needed Willingness to travel to school locations if needed
   
   Benefits Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefit Plans10 Month School Position with 12 Month Semi-Monthly PayGenerous Paid Time Off Benefits 403(b) Investment OptionsDirect Employer HireNegotiable Sign-On Bonus for Certified Special Education Teachers
   Our Midway location provides two different programs, Menta Academy Midway and Menta Sports Academy:
   
   Menta Academy Midway:
   
   Menta Midway is the Bilingual Autism Academy for students ages 10-21. Midway provides education and support services primarily for English speaking and non-English speaking children with disabilities. Many of Menta Midway's staff is bilingual (English and Spanish) thus able to communicate in the child's native language. Here the learning environment is designed to decrease student dependence on the teacher and to encourage skill development that will lead to a productive life. A complete array of functional life skills support is available to those students whose IEP team determines the students annual goals best align with a curriculum that includes self-management/daily living activities, general community mobility, vocational/competitive employment and recreation and leisure activities.
   
   Like other Menta programs, the Menta Academy Midway program utilizes a collaborative and data-based problem-solving process to identify students in need of additional interventions, develop appropriate interventions, and progress monitor student response to interventions. The problem-solving process uses a functional behavior approach to understanding student behavior and developing function-based interventions in behavior plans. Functional behavior assessment is another evidence-based practice that is at the heart of ABA. Problem-solving teams include BCBA's who provide consultation on data collection, data analysis, and intervention planning.
   
   Learning environments in the classrooms thoughtfully integrate specific evidence-based strategies from the Structured Teaching Model developed by Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Our educators carefully structure physical aspects of the classroom to meet the students' needs for optimal success, arranging the room to fit the child rather than trying to make the child fit the room.
   
   Menta Sports Academy:
   
   MSA incorporates athletic themes and content into the instruction of core subject areas to sustain educational engagement of each student. Through the use of project-based learning, students are able to pursue study in areas such as marketing, sports medicine, athletic training, business management and other sports related industries. MSA facilitates student engagement through depth and substance of subject matter.
   
   MSA focuses on the student athlete who requires a flexible schedule. Athletic training and conditioning is provided for during the school day. Eligible student/athletes will have the opportunity to play AAU sports on school teams in the evenings and on weekends, in addition to community and intramural sports activities. The coaching staff works to prepare students to complete at their highest level, thus providing opportunities for athletes to be seen by college recruiters and coaches.
   
   More About The Menta Group
   
   The Menta Group's mission is “To provide innovative solutions to critical problems in education and human services.” Menta brings a framework of educational practices that have been designed and are supported through evidence based practices. Menta's collaborative process with various school and community stakeholders has resulted in programs designed to educate, support, challenge, empower and celebrate students who present with a range of academic, social and emotional needs. At the beginning of a student's experience with Menta, a collaborative meeting is held that includes the student, significant people in their lives, Menta staff and other professionals as appropriate. During that meeting, a comprehensive assessment of the student's past, present and future desires is used to establish a student centered plan (MAP) that serves as a foundation of the student's Menta programming. A guiding principle of Menta is ‘we do not give up', while also holding our students and staff to high expectations. The educational offerings at a Menta program provides students with a quality education that is designed to nurture and enhance the skills and maturity needed to meet the challenges of being productive adults and citizens in a rapidly changing 21st century world.
   
   Menta's programs utilize a unique curricular framework that relies on the Expanded Menta Method and Trauma Informed Practices as the foundational principles for the teaching, counseling and mentoring work done by our highly trained staff. Personalized learning is the hub of our strategic curricular design intended to meet the needs of every student. Starting with the end in mind (learning targets and academic goals), a leveraging of current technologies coupled with highly trained instructional facilitators creates a rich learning environment supporting all student needs. Menta's learning spaces are unique and specially designed to combine traditional teacher/student interaction with state of the art technology and learning innovations. Those learning spaces are flexible and can accommodate a variety of learning activities, such as inquiry learning and project based learning. Our spaces are designed to mimic productive spaces learners would find in business and/or corporate environments, thereby helping students achieve a mind-set designed for adult learning and work.
   
   Professional Associations and/or Partnerships
   
   The Menta Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   The Menta Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Menta Group ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. The District has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making application for any opening should contact the district office.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right school janitor for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your school janitor job on Zippia to find and recruit school janitor 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 school janitors, 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 school janitor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the school janitor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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 school janitor. 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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