What does a Janitor do?
Janitors keep buildings such as schools, office spaces, hospitals, retail stores, and residential buildings clean and in good condition. Their primary responsibility is as a cleaner, but in many cases janitors also perform security and maintenance tasks. While most janitors work indoors, some work outdoors part of the time, for example removing snow or sweeping walkways.
A formal education is not required. Most janitors hold a high school degree. The work can be physically demanding and many janitors work evening hours because office buildings and schools are typically cleaned when they are empty.
- Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming them
- Clean windows and mirrors
- Clean and supply restrooms
- Remove waste and empty trash
- Maintain cleaning chart indicating areas that were cleaned and inspected
- Replenish cleaning and maintenance supplies
- Organize janitorial storage areas
- Notify supervisors about unsafe conditions or concerning the need for repairs or maintenance
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
- Ability to observe safety and security procedures and to comply with policies
- Ability to read and interpret written information; ability to write clear statements; ability to communicate orally
- Must be able to do physical work and operate power equipment normally found in janitorial operations
- Attention to detail
- Ability to follow schedules and keep commitments
- Ability to follow directions from a supervisor
- Ability to demonstrate professionalism
- Must be able to manage time efficiently and to work individually as well as within a team
Janitor Salaries near United Kingdom
Average Base Pay
Janitor Career Path
Learn how to become a Janitor, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Janitor Insights
Gi Group Holding“I was a janitor but worked a job as a chef/caterer also which was very stressful and unpleasant.”
Velociti Services“They have really good accounts and some of the people you work with are great.”
Grosvenor Casinos“Loved working at the casino it was nice place to work at Loved seeing all the customers and it being busy”
Edible Arrangements“The original manager I had was nice but absent the second clearly didn't know what they were doing.”
Amazon“Amazon is the best place to learn best practices in software development and also find your career path.”
The Cleaning Authority“Management is nice but doesn’t care about any issues that happen on the job with clients.”
Environment Control“Dead end job because no one cares how well you do your job unless a client complains.”
Swanstaff Recruitment“Always offers great communication for any issues and/or if you want to change your role.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of a Janitor
When working as a Janitor, the most common skills you will need to perform your job and for career success are Positive Attitude, Strong WORK Ethic, English Language, Computer Literate and Windows.
- Housekeeper
- Warehouse Worker
- Forklift Operator
- Packer
The most common qualifications to become a Janitor is a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and an average of 0 - 1 of experience not including years spent in education and/or training.