Janitors, maids, housekeeping cleaners, window washer, rug shampooer job outlook

Employment

Building cleaning workers held more than 4 million jobs in 2004. More than 6 percent were self-employed.

Janitors and cleaners work in nearly every type of establishment and held about 2.4 million jobs. They accounted for more than 58 percent of all building cleaning workers. More than 29 percent worked for firms supplying building maintenance services on a contract basis, more than 20 percent were employed in public or private educational services, and 2 percent worked in hotels or motels. Other employers included hospitals; restaurants; religious institutions; manufacturing firms; government agencies; and operators of apartment buildings, office buildings, and other types of real estate.

First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers held about 236,000 jobs. Approximately 23 percent worked in firms supplying building maintenance services on a contract basis, while approximately 13 percent were employed in hotels or motels. More than 20 percent worked for State and local governments, primarily at schools and colleges. Others worked for hospitals, nursing homes and other residential care facilities.

Maids and housekeepers held about 1.4 million jobs. Private households employed the most maids and housekeepers—almost 28 percent—while hotels, motels, and other traveler accommodations employed the second most—almost 27 percent.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and other residential care facilities employed large numbers, also. Although cleaning jobs can be found in all cities and towns, most are located in highly populated areas where there are many office buildings, schools, apartment houses, nursing homes, and hospitals.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, were $18,790 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $15,320 and $24,420. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13,010 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $31,780. Median annual earnings in 2004 in the industries employing the largest numbers of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, were as follows:

Elementary and secondary schools -- $22,910
Local government -- $22,860
Colleges, universities, and professional schools -- $21,860
Lessors of real estate -- $21,050
Services to buildings and dwellings -- $16,820

Median annual earnings of maids and housekeepers were $16,900 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $14,570 and $20,570. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25,220. Median annual earnings in 2004 in the industries employing the largest numbers of maids and housekeepers were as follows:

General medical and surgical hospitals -- $18,770
Services to buildings and dwellings -- $17,130
Community care facilities for the elderly -- $17,010
Nursing care facilities -- $16,960
Traveler accommodation -- $16,250

Median annual earnings of first-line supervisors and managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers were $29,510 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $22,720 and $38,790. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,230. Median annual earnings in May 2004 in the industries employing the largest numbers of first-line supervisors and managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers were as follows:

Local government -- $34,780
Elementary and secondary schools -- $33,760
Nursing care facilities -- $28,370
Services to buildings and dwellings -- $27,760
Traveler accommodation -- $24,310

Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Building Cleaning Workers, on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos174.htm (visited November 14, 2006).