Custodian Job Description

Salary Range

$32,240 - $44,060

Experience

Entry-level

Work Environment

Schools, offices, hospitals, and public buildings

What Does a Custodian Do?

Custodians keep schools, office buildings, hospitals, churches and public facilities clean, stocked and safe to use. A typical shift, often in the evening after occupants leave, includes cleaning restrooms, emptying trash and recycling, vacuuming and mopping, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Custodians also run floor machines to strip and wax hard floors, shampoo carpets, set up rooms for events and handle small repairs like replacing a light bulb or tightening a loose door handle. In schools they are often the first person called when something spills or breaks.

Other Job Titles for This Work

Workers in this occupation report titles such as Building Custodian, Building Services Technician (Building Services Tech), Building Services Worker, Cleaner, Custodial Worker, Facilities Worker, Heavy Duty Custodian, Janitor.

Custodian Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a custodian include:

• Clean and disinfect restrooms, restocking soap, paper towels and toilet paper on a set schedule.
• Empty trash and recycling throughout the building and haul bags to the dumpster or compactor.
• Sweep, dust-mop, wet-mop and vacuum floors along a nightly route.
• Strip, refinish and burnish hard floors and shampoo carpets with floor machines and extractors.
• Dilute concentrated cleaning chemicals correctly and read the safety data sheet before using a new product.
• Clean glass doors, mirrors and windows with squeegees and glass cleaner.
• Set up and break down tables and chairs for meetings, assemblies and events.
• Replace light bulbs, tighten fixtures and report leaks, broken locks or heating problems to the facilities manager.
• Lock doors, check that equipment is shut off and set alarms at the end of the night shift.
• Clean up spills, vomit and other bodily fluids following bloodborne pathogens procedures.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To succeed as a custodian, you will need the following skills and qualifications:

• Safe operation of floor scrubbers, burnishers, carpet extractors and wet vacs
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals, dilution ratios and the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting
• Hazard communication training for reading labels and safety data sheets
• Bloodborne pathogens training, standard for custodians in schools and healthcare buildings
• Basic handyman skills with cordless drills, hammers and wrenches for small fixes
• Physical stamina for pushing carts, lifting trash and standing most of the shift
• Working independently through a nightly route without close supervision
• A courteous, low-key manner around students, patients or office staff while cleaning occupied spaces

Education and Training

Custodial jobs do not require formal education, and employers regularly hire people without a diploma, though a high school diploma or GED is common. Training happens on the job and usually takes a few days to a few weeks, covering cleaning routes, chemical safety, floor machines and building security procedures. Schools, hospitals and government employers typically require a background check, and some ask for a driver's license. Workers who learn floor care, minor repairs or boiler and HVAC basics can move up to lead custodian, head custodian or maintenance positions. Certification programs in custodial or environmental services work exist but are optional.

Salary and Job Outlook

Custodians are needed in schools, hospitals, offices, and government buildings. Experienced custodians can advance to lead custodian, head custodian, facilities coordinator, or building maintenance supervisor roles.

Custodian Pay Range

Highest-Paying States for Custodians

The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Massachusetts ($45,580), Washington ($45,520), New York ($41,640), California ($41,090), Vermont ($40,910). Pay is lowest in Arkansas ($29,750), Louisiana ($28,930), Mississippi ($28,380).

What the Work Is Like

O*NET surveys people who work as janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:

• 92% spend more than half the day walking or moving around
• 84% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
• 81% spend more than half the workday on their feet
• 81% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
• 79% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
• 53% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
• 51% have a lot of freedom to make decisions

Education Workers Say the Job Needs

Tools and Software Custodians Use

Tools and equipment

• Adjustable hand wrenches
• Adjustable widemouth pliers
• Aerial manlifts
• Air compressors
• Carpet shampooers
• Claw hammers
• Cordless drills
• Desktop computers
• Dry mops
• Equipment dollies

Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Eko
• Operating system software
• Squeegee

Is This Job a Good Fit for You?

People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.

Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Coordination, Time Management.

Knowledge areas used most: Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Transportation.

Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.

Related Careers

These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:

• Janitor job description
• Housekeeper job description
• Room Attendant job description
• Auto Detailer job description
• Laundry Worker job description
• Dishwasher job description
• Maintenance Technician job description
• Maintenance Worker job description

Applying for a Custodian Job

• Job application letter sample
• How to write the skills section of a resume
• How to describe your work experience
• Job interview tips
• Interview thank-you note

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