Janitor Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a Janitor. Feel free to use our Janitor job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a Janitor.
Who is a Janitor?
A janitor is someone who is responsible for cleaning and maintaining a structure. When looking up synonyms for the Janitor in a dictionary, however, one is astonished to see phrases like custodian, gatekeeper, caretaker, attendant, doorkeeper, concierge, and others.
When a janitor working in schools or other public institutions is tasked with extra responsibilities in addition to cleaning, he is sometimes referred to as a custodian.
Janitors clean and maintain a variety of structures, including homes, offices, schools, stores, and hospitals. Depending on the sort of facility they work in, their responsibilities may differ. Aside from cleaning, janitors may also perform modest repairs or maintain tiny gardens. A janitor is a person who cleans many types of buildings. They carry out ordinary everyday work as well as special projects that arise from time to time.
They are responsible for sweeping and mopping floors, wiping surfaces, and ensuring that the area to which they have been allocated is appropriately cleaned. They keep track of the inventory of cleaning materials to guarantee that they never run out. Some janitors are also in charge of minor repairs to various office equipment and fixtures. They also assist with company event setup and cleaning, as well as coordinating any duties that the office may require.
Janitor Job Description
Below are the Janitor job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a Janitor job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Janitor include the following:
- Cleaning and maintaining the structure.
- Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping floors
- Stocking and cleaning restrooms and stores.
- Ensuring that all doors are locked after work hours.
- Using the proper equipment to clean up spills.
- Finishing minor repairs on schedule.
- Reporting major repairs to supervisors or managers.
- Collecting the garbage and properly disposing of them.
- Making sure tasks are completed on schedule and with little supervision.
- Maintaining a store of cleaning goods.
- Enlisting the help of a contract cleaning company, if or when necessary.
Qualifications
- Requires a high school certificate or a GED.
- Ability to comply with policies and follow safety and security procedures.
- Capacity to comprehend and interpret written information; ability to produce concise remarks; spoken communication ability
- The ability to perform physical labor and operate power tools commonly used in janitorial operations is required.
- Detail-oriented
- Ability to stick to deadlines and fulfill obligations.
- The ability to obey a supervisor’s instructions.
- Professionalism is an asset.
- Must be able to effectively manage time and work both independently and in groups.
Essential Skills
To be effective in their jobs, janitors need a variety of talents. Dexterity and stamina are required for the job, which necessitates physical labor. Individuals interested in the position should be aware of this and prepare for it. Other skills necessary include the following:
- Maintenance and repair
You’ll need to keep the equipment you use to clean and maintain the buildings and grounds at larger businesses in good working order. The talents on this list indicate to potential employers that you’ll be their go-to guy for keeping their machinery running smoothly. Let employers know if you’ve worked with specific brands of equipment that require special upkeep. Include abilities such as building maintenance, electrical repairs, equipment, maintenance, tool repair, grounds maintenance, mechanical aptitude, refurbishing, and mending in your resume. If you have them, electrical and/or fixtures.
- Skills in administration
Janitors can keep track of cleaning materials and order more as needed by using their administrative skills. It’s possible that they’ll need to use a computer to keep track of inventory. Janitors can also use their administrative abilities to organize schedules and keep track of when various duties are accomplished.
- Ability to clean
Janitors need to be able to do a wide range of cleaning tasks. They can clean floors in a systematic manner by sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and polishing. Janitors may also be required to effectively sanitize various places, especially if they work in a healthcare facility. Cleaning skills can also be used by janitors to ensure that they use the right resources for the job.
- Time management
Janitors are in charge of a variety of jobs and responsibilities, many of which have deadlines. They can effectively manage their time so that they can complete all of the important duties on time. Additionally, because some janitors work in various locations, they must be able to apply time management skills to enable enough time to commute between them.
- Physical stamina
Lifting, walking, bending, and pushing are just a few of the physical chores that janitors accomplish. Janitors must be able to lift large objects, operate equipment, and stand or walk for long amounts of time.
- Mechanical skills
A janitor’s job entails a wide range of responsibilities, and they may be called upon to resolve small issues. Basic mechanical abilities are advantageous for janitors because they enable them to perform these tasks as needed. With practice, you can increase your mechanical abilities.
- Teamwork
Janitors, especially in larger buildings, frequently work in groups. They can learn to work well with others and build interpersonal skills. Janitors can also listen and collaborate with one another to finish a task swiftly and effectively.
- Maintenance Expertise
These advanced talents will help you land jobs at businesses that require more than just basic cleaning. As a member of a building maintenance team, you’ll be responsible for minor structural repairs and special maintenance projects, as well as keeping the facility in good working order and performing timely repairs, such as Plumbing, Carpentry, Roofing, Finishing/Refinishing Floors, Masonry, Welding, and Painting.
- Interpersonal Skills
Many janitorial and maintenance positions require you to operate as part of a team, so you’ll need to get along with everyone on your team. You may also interact directly with a company’s consumers in some situations, particularly if you work during business hours. If you want to work your way up to a supervisory role, you’ll need strong interpersonal skills, such as: Communication, Teamwork, Customer Service, Supervising, Interpersonal Skills, Following Instructions, and Service.
- Attention to details
Janitors must ensure that their work is comprehensive and error-free, therefore they often exhibit outstanding attention to detail. This ability might assist you in completing your tasks quickly and effectively. Paying close attention to the details will also help you spot any spills or problems that may have occurred throughout the cleaning process.
- Customer service
The capacity to communicate with consumers in a polite and helpful manner is known as customer service. You might be the first person a consumer sees when they walk into a building as a janitor. This implies that you should be approachable and friendly. You should be able to answer inquiries concerning the structure and its services as well.
How to Become a Janitor
- Obtain a high school degree or an equivalent certificate.
To work as a janitor, you’ll most likely need high school graduation or GED. For the most part, most jobs do not require any formal schooling. An associate’s degree in management is beneficial for managerial employment.
Although businesses prefer individuals with a high school diploma or GED, a janitor does not typically require formal higher education to get work. An associate or bachelor’s degree can be obtained by those interested in a job in manufacturing or maintenance. Janitors with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in management or business administration may be able to advance to managing or administrative positions.
- Get necessary training.
Most of your training will take place/ happen on the job. Some community-based employment organizations, on the other hand, may offer training programs to teach you the skills needed to work as a janitor. You might also volunteer to learn more about various cleaning methods and tools.
A janitor’s training consists largely of on-the-job learning. To learn how to conduct certain job duties and processes, a rookie janitor will work with an experienced industry specialist.
A janitor may be required to operate wet/dry vacuums, lawnmowers, floor buffers, or snowblowers. They learn how to clean various surfaces with certain cleaning products and how to properly dispose of various debris.
- Gain experience
You’ll need sufficient experience to qualify for higher-paying opportunities in this field. You should be able to gain raises and promotions by demonstrating a strong work ethic, which you should learn from entry-level positions.
- Pursue technical credentials.
While certification isn’t required to work as a janitor, it might help you obtain additional knowledge and demonstrate your expertise in a certain area. To broaden your work choices and raise your earning potential, you can get numerous certificates in different concentrations.
Where to Work as a Janitor
Janitors work for cleaning firms and commercial buildings such as office parks, retail malls, hospitals, and other properties to do cleaning jobs that regular employees are unable to complete. They frequently execute maintenance activities across the building early in the morning or after business hours with a team of other maintenance professionals. Their responsibilities include cleaning public restrooms, operating cleaning equipment such as motorized floor scrubbers, and restocking cleaning materials when necessary. They may also be required to work on the building’s outside, such as cleaning windows, power washing walls, and mowing lawns.
They can work both indoors and out in a variety of environments, including:
- Schools/ Universities
The security, safety, repair, and care of a school building and grounds are the responsibility of a school janitor. A single janitor works at many primary schools. Two or three may be found in a large high school or university.
- Office buildings
Office janitors clean around work areas, pick up trash, vacuum carpets, mop floors, clean around work areas, wipe up spills, and sterilize bathrooms. They also maintain track of inventory and, when necessary, place orders for cleaning products.
Some office janitors are also expected to change light bulbs, fuses, filters, and water pumps, as well as perform small repairs, particularly in rural settings where plumbers and electricians are scarce. Additionally, these janitors may require carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repair knowledge.
- Hotels
Hotels need janitors to keep them clean. Emptying garbage cans, cleaning restrooms, washing windows, wiping down spills, and vacuuming floors are all part of this job. Janitors are also in charge of ordering fresh supplies and tools, necessitating the keeping of a detailed inventory.
Instead of mentioning any formal degree, your janitor job description should emphasize experiences and skills. Prior cleaning experience is beneficial, as is previous work repairing walls or addressing electrical problems.
- Hospitals
A hospital janitor, sometimes known as a hospital custodian, is a person who cleans and maintains a hospital or other medical facility. As a hospital janitor, you’ll be responsible for keeping all public areas clean, including corridors, toilets, and patient rooms, as well as reporting any mechanical or technical difficulties to the facility crew. Some hospital janitors also do modest groundskeeping tasks including shoveling snow, mowing lawns, and watering plants and trees. Mops, vacuums, carpet steamers, and floor buffers are just a few of the products and equipment that you can employ.
- Airports
Airport janitors are responsible for maintaining the airport’s basic upkeep and cleanliness by cutting grass, cleaning windows, operating snowplows, maintaining runway lights, conducting janitorial labor, and performing janitorial work.
- Theatres
The duty of a theater janitor entails cleaning the theater on a nightly basis. Picking up discarded cups and containers from the floor, sweeping up popcorn and garbage, and scraping gum off the floor are all examples of this. Other regular duties include washing cup holders, removing carpet stains, mopping floors, sparkling glass concession windows, scouring bathrooms, and cleaning escalators.
Others include residential buildings, sports stadiums, train stations, etc.
A janitor is required in almost every indoor gathering space. Janitors can operate alone or as part of a group; the greater the facility, the larger the janitorial staff. Mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners, and floor polishers are among the industrial cleaning tools they employ. If outside care is part of their profession, they may also use rakes, shovels, and leaf blowers. Janitors who handle repair work may employ a variety of tools to get the job done.
In a residential situation, a janitor may also serve as a building supervisor, collecting rent, advertising vacancies, repairing problems, and maintaining a clean atmosphere.
Janitors work a variety of shifts. Some janitors work throughout the day, while others work nights, weekends, or holidays. Depending on the industry, overtime may be required at certain times.
Janitor Salary Scale
As of March 29, 2022, the average Janitor wage in the United States is $31,653, while the range frequently ranges between $27,848 and $37,681. Salary ranges depend on a lot of criteria, including schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field.
In Nigeria, a janitor earns about 94,800 NGN per month on average. The lowest salary is 46,500 NGN, and the highest is 148,000 NGN (highest).
This is the monthly salary, which covers housing, transportation, and other perks. Salaries for cleaners vary greatly depending on some factors such as their level of experience, abilities, gender, and location.