upper level job

Hourly Wage for Janitor I Salary in the United States

How much does a Janitor I make hourly?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Janitor I in the United States is $18, which translates to an annual salary of about $37,306.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $20 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $16 to $19 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $15 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Janitor I Salaries

A Janitor I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Janitor I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Janitor I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Janitor I (0-1 years): $37,306
  • Janitor II (1-3 years): $41,734
  • Janitor III (3-5 years): $46,225
  • Janitorial Supervisor (5+ years): $49,753
  • Janitorial Manager (5+ years): $78,087
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Janitor I0-1 years$37,306
Janitor II1-3 years$41,734
Janitor III3-5 years$46,225
Janitorial Supervisor5+ years$49,753
Janitorial Manager5+ years$78,087

Top Paying Cities for Janitor I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $47,054
  • San Francisco: $46,539
  • Oakland: $45,558

What Skills Can Increase a Janitor I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.2% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Commercial Cleaning (Mentioned in 4.28% Job Postings): Commercial cleaning is cleaning carried out by a commercial cleaning company. A commercial cleaning service cleans things such as offices, buildings, or retail stores.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 8.2%
Commercial Cleaning 4.28%
Work Ethic 1.61%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Janitor I's salary.

  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Painting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability $44,021
18%
Problem Solving $40,290
8%
Painting $39,917
7%

Janitor I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Janitor I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $41,762. While startup companies pay approximate $35,330.

Janitor I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $35,330
Growth Stage 51~500 $37,365
Established 501~5000 $40,329
Enterprise 5000+ $41,762

Janitor I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Janitor I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Janitor positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Janitor I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Janitor I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$48,498$23.030%
Biotechnology$44,767$22.020%
Pharmaceuticals$44,021$21.018%
Aerospace & Defense$42,902$21.015%
Energy & Utilities$41,783$20.012%

How Education impacts an Janitor I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Janitor I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Janitor I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $34,459 and $36,541.

Janitor I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Janitor I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.6%
High School 76.8%
Associates 10.6%
Bachelors 7.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Janitor I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Janitor I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$33,633
Average $37,306/year
$39,860
$2,803
Average $3,109/month
$3,322
$647
Average $717/week
$767
$16
Average $18/hour
$19
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $39,860 $3,322 $767 $19
Average $37,306 $3,109 $717 $18
25th Percentile $33,633 $2,803 $647 $16

Most common benefits for Janitor I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Janitor I

Here are companies hiring for Janitor I and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Janitor I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Janitor I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Janitor I

1. What are the responsibilities of Janitor I?

Cleans and maintains buildings, facilities, and equipment. Uses cleaning tools and other products to create a clean, healthy environment. Removes and disposes trash, recycling, and other waste following the appropriate policies. May need to have basic maintenance skills. May require a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

2. What are the skills of Janitor I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

Commercial Cleaning: Commercial cleaning is cleaning carried out by a commercial cleaning company. A commercial cleaning service cleans things such as offices, buildings, or retail stores.

3.)

Work Ethic: A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst