What is a janitorial job description, and how is it different from a house cleaner’s?
A janitorial job description describes cleaning work in commercial and institutional buildings (offices, schools, medical offices, warehouses, retail) on a set shift, usually evenings or early mornings, following a building specification. A house cleaner’s description covers homes during the day with a client often present. The tasks overlap, but the schedule, the equipment, the security rules and the client relationship are different enough that one posting cannot do both jobs.
O*NET’s profile for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (37-2011) defines the occupation as keeping buildings in clean and orderly condition, with heavy cleaning duties such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish, and notes that duties may include tending furnaces and boilers, routine maintenance, notifying management of needed repairs, and clearing snow or debris from sidewalks. Its list of reported job titles is the vocabulary you will see on applications: Building Custodian, Building Services Technician, Building Services Worker, Cleaner, Custodial Worker, Custodian, Facilities Worker, Heavy Duty Custodian, Janitor and School Custodian.
A good janitorial job description has eight parts, in this order:
- Title, shift and location (the building type and area, not the client’s name).
- Pay and status (hourly rate or range, full-time or part-time, overtime eligibility).
- A three-sentence summary of the role.
- Duties grouped by frequency.
- Requirements: experience, physical, legal, transportation.
- What you provide: training, equipment, uniforms.
- How to apply, in one step.
- An equal opportunity statement.
If you clean homes, our free house cleaner job description generator writes that version from your pay, hours and duties. This guide covers the commercial side.
Janitorial duties, listed by how often they happen
Janitorial duties split into every-shift tasks (restrooms, trash, floors, touch points), weekly tasks (detail dusting, glass, kitchens deep clean) and periodic projects (floor stripping and waxing, carpet extraction, high dusting). Listing them by frequency makes the posting honest and gives you the building checklist for free.
The every-shift list below tracks O*NET’s task list for the occupation, which starts with servicing restrooms, gathering and emptying trash, and cleaning floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing or vacuuming, and includes monitoring building security by locking doors after hours, notifying managers of needed repairs, mixing cleaning solutions to specification, cleaning windows and glass partitions, requisitioning supplies, dusting furniture and equipment, and moving heavy furniture or equipment.
| Frequency | Duties |
|---|---|
| Every shift | Clean, disinfect and restock restrooms (toilets, urinals, sinks, mirrors, partitions, floors, dispensers); sign the restroom log. Empty trash and recycling, replace liners, take bags to the dumpster. Vacuum carpets and mats; sweep and damp-mop hard floors; spot-clean spills. Wipe desks (surfaces only, papers left alone), tables, counters, door handles, light switches and other touch points. Clean break room sinks, counters, microwave exterior and tables; run or empty the dishwasher if in scope. Clean entrance glass and interior glass partitions. Check and refill soap, paper and sanitizer. Turn off lights, set the alarm and lock up as instructed. Report damage, leaks, pests, burned-out bulbs and anything unusual to the supervisor. |
| Weekly | Dust ledges, sills, vents, blinds, baseboards and furniture legs. Clean interior glass and partitions fully. Wipe trash can exteriors and lids. Polish stainless steel and chrome. Vacuum upholstered chairs and edges. Mop under movable furniture. Clean inside microwaves and refrigerator exteriors. Spot-clean walls and doors. |
| Monthly or quarterly | High dusting (above 6 feet, with proper equipment). Carpet extraction in traffic lanes. Scrub and recoat or strip and wax hard floors. Burnish finished floors. Clean light fixtures and diffusers. Wash walls in restrooms and break rooms. Clean exterior entry areas and remove debris. |
| As assigned | Set up and break down for meetings or events. Minor maintenance such as replacing bulbs or tightening fixtures where allowed. Snow and ice removal at entrances. Supply counts and closet organization. Emergency clean-ups, following bloodborne pathogen procedures where trained. |
Keep the duty list for a given building consistent with its contract. The same list, reorganized by room, becomes the building’s specification; the office cleaning checklist is a worked version for a typical office.
What requirements and physical demands belong in the posting?
List the requirements the job actually has: the ability to lift and carry a stated weight, to stand and walk a full shift, to use ladders and floor machines, to work the shift, to reach the building, to pass a background check if client contracts require one, and the legal right to work. Leave out anything that is really a preference about the person rather than the job.
Physical demands, stated as numbers
- Lift and carry up to [40 to 50] lb (full trash bags, buckets, cases of paper); push and pull carts and floor machines.
- Stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach and climb stairs for a [4 to 8] hour shift.
- Use step ladders up to [6] feet; operate vacuums, auto-scrubbers and burnishers after training.
- Work with cleaning chemicals wearing provided gloves and eye protection.
Legal and client requirements
- Background check. Many commercial, school and medical clients require one. Say “able to pass a criminal background check as required by client contracts; the company pays for it.” The check itself needs written consent and must follow federal and state screening rules; the hiring guide covers the process.
- Bondable. If your accounts require a janitorial bond, say the employee must be eligible for coverage under it.
- Right to work. “Legal authorization to work in the United States” is standard; Form I-9 is completed at hire.
- Transportation. For night shifts, “reliable transportation to [area]” is a real requirement; a driver’s license is only a requirement if the job involves driving.
Keep the language about the job, not the person
The EEOC says a job advertisement cannot show a preference for, or discourage someone from applying because of, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. In practice: “lift 50 lb” rather than “strong young man,” “able to work 6 pm to 10 pm” rather than “no family commitments,” and “able to read the checklist and safety labels in English or Spanish” rather than “native English speaker.” Reasonable accommodation language (“with or without reasonable accommodation”) after the physical demands is standard and costs nothing.
What you provide
Under OSHA’s hazard communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, the employer must give employees information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, with labeled containers and safety data sheets available. So chemical safety training is something you list under “what we provide,” along with equipment, uniforms and a paid orientation. In our experience, postings that promise training get more applicants than postings that demand experience.
What pay and schedule should the description state?
State an hourly rate or a narrow range, the hours per week, the days and shift times, and whether overtime, a night differential or a raise at 90 days applies. O*NET’s 2025 median for the occupation is $17.71 an hour, or $36,840 a year, with a state selector for local figures; nearby warehouses, retail and fast food set the floor you have to clear.
| Role | Typical schedule | How to state pay (hypothetical numbers) |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time evening office cleaner | Mon/Wed/Fri 6 to 10 pm, 12 hours a week, one building | “$17 an hour, paid weekly, $0.50 more after 90 days” |
| Full-time night janitor, route of buildings | Mon to Fri 5 pm to 1:30 am, 40 hours, company van | “$18 to $20 an hour depending on experience, $1 night differential, overtime over 40 hours” |
| Day porter, single large site | Mon to Fri 7 am to 3:30 pm, 40 hours | “$18 an hour, paid every two weeks, uniforms provided” |
| School custodian (second shift) | Mon to Fri 2:30 to 11 pm, 40 hours, summers on days | “$19 an hour, benefits after 60 days” |
| Floor care technician | Weekend projects and nights as scheduled, 20 to 30 hours | “$21 to $24 an hour, experience with stripping and burnishing required” |
Three rules on pay in the posting. First, state the overtime rule correctly: under 29 CFR part 778, hours over 40 in a workweek are paid at not less than one and a half times the regular rate, and a night differential is part of that regular rate. Second, if the shift moves between buildings, say that drive time between them is paid; it is hours worked. Third, put the raise schedule in writing if you have one: “review at 90 days” in the posting is a retention tool that costs nothing until the person has proven themselves.
Where the number should sit, and how to present it against competing employers, is covered in the guide to how much house cleaners make, which also shows owner earnings by region.
Janitor job description template to copy
Copy this janitor job description, fill in the brackets and delete anything that is not true for your building. It is written for a part-time evening office account; the next section shows what to change for custodian and janitorial associate roles.
Job title: Janitor / Evening Office Cleaner (part-time)
Company: [Company], a commercial cleaning company serving [area] since [year]. Location: [Office park / medical building] in [city or neighborhood]. Shift: [Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm], [12] hours a week. Pay: $[17.50] an hour, paid [weekly], with a review at 90 days. Overtime at 1.5 times your rate for hours over 40 in a week. Status: Part-time, hourly, non-exempt.
About the job
You will clean a [30,000] sq ft office building with one other cleaner, following a written checklist for each area. Most of the shift is restrooms, trash, vacuuming and mopping, kitchens and touch points, with weekly detail tasks on a rotation. You will be trained on our products, equipment and safety procedures during your first week, on paid time.
What you will do each shift
- Clean, disinfect and restock [8] restrooms and sign the restroom log.
- Empty trash and recycling in all offices and common areas, replace liners, and take bags to the dumpster.
- Vacuum carpeted areas and mats; sweep and damp-mop hard floors; spot-clean spills.
- Wipe desks, tables, counters, door handles, light switches and other touch points.
- Clean [2] break rooms: sinks, counters, tables, microwave exteriors, and refill supplies.
- Clean entrance glass and interior glass; dust accessible surfaces on the weekly rotation.
- Turn off lights, set the alarm and lock all doors as instructed; report anything unusual.
- Report leaks, damage, pests, burned-out bulbs and low supplies to your supervisor the same night.
What we are looking for
- Reliable: you show up for every scheduled shift, on time, and let us know early if you cannot.
- Able to lift and carry up to [40] lb, stand and walk for the full shift, bend, kneel and use a step ladder, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Able to read the checklist and product labels in [English or Spanish] and use a smartphone app for clock-in and checklists.
- Reliable transportation to [area] for an evening shift.
- Able to pass a criminal background check required by our client (we pay for it) and eligible for coverage under our bond.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States. Previous cleaning experience is helpful but not required; we train.
What we provide
- Paid training on products, equipment and chemical safety, with safety data sheets available on site.
- All equipment, products, gloves and eye protection; [2] company shirts.
- A fixed schedule published a week ahead, and a supervisor you can reach during every shift.
- [Referral bonus of $150 after your referral’s 90th day.] [Pay review at 90 days.]
How to apply
Text “[EVENINGS]” to [number] with your name and the days you can start, or apply at [link]. We reply the same business day.
[Company] is an equal opportunity employer. We make hiring decisions based on qualifications and the needs of the job, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other status protected by law.
That posting is about 480 words. For a job board, use it as is. For a Facebook group or a flyer, keep the title, the shift, the pay, two duties and the text keyword, and cut everything else. The template is general information, not legal advice; pay, break and screening rules differ by state, so check yours before posting.
Custodian job description vs janitor vs janitorial associate: what changes?
Custodian, janitor and janitorial associate describe the same occupation in different settings: “custodian” is the usual title in schools, government buildings and facilities departments and often adds light maintenance and grounds work; “janitorial associate” is a title used by large retailers, hospitals and corporate facilities teams, typically for a day shift with customer contact; “janitor” is the general commercial term. Change the duties and the shift to match the building, not the title to match a search.
| Title | Usual setting | What to add to the template | What to remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custodian | Schools, churches, municipal and university buildings, in-house facilities teams | Minor maintenance (bulbs, filters, basic plumbing), grounds and snow removal, event setup and teardown, boiler or HVAC checks where O*NET notes they occur, summer deep-clean projects, interaction with staff and students, often a daytime second shift | Multi-building routes, alarm and lock-up procedures for client sites |
| Janitorial associate | Retail stores, hospitals and clinics (as environmental services), corporate campuses | Daytime presence with customers or patients, restroom checks on a timed schedule, spill response, floor scrubber operation, infection-control procedures in medical settings, a customer-service line in the summary | After-hours lock-up, working alone |
| Janitor / commercial cleaner | Office buildings, medical offices, warehouses, contract cleaning companies | The template above: evening or night shift, building specification, keys and alarm procedures, possibly a route of several buildings | Maintenance and grounds work unless the contract includes it |
| Day porter | Large office and medical sites, malls, lobbies | Continuous lobby and restroom touch-ups, trash runs, spill response, supply restocking, presentable uniform and customer contact | Nightly deep tasks; those go to the evening crew |
| Floor care technician | Contract cleaning companies, large facilities | Stripping, waxing, burnishing, carpet extraction, machine maintenance, project scheduling, higher pay and stated experience | Routine nightly cleaning duties |
For a custodian job description in a school, add the requirements the district will impose (fingerprinting, state-specific background checks, sometimes a boiler or pool certificate) and the summer schedule. For a janitorial associate in a medical setting, add training on bloodborne pathogens and the facility’s infection control procedures as something you provide, and the vaccination or health screening requirements the client applies.
Where should you post it, and how short should each version be?
Post the full description on a job board, a 40-word version in local Facebook and community groups, and a one-line version anywhere people already see your company (vehicles, invoices, website footer). Each version keeps the same four facts: title, shift, pay, how to apply.
The 40-word version
Hiring: evening office cleaner, Mon/Wed/Fri 6 to 10 pm, $17.50/hour paid weekly, one building in [area], two-person team, training provided, background check paid by us. Great second income. Text “EVENINGS” to [number] and we will call you today.
The one-liner
Now hiring evening cleaners, $17.50/hr. Text EVENINGS to [number].
Where night and part-time applicants come from
- People with a day job who want 12 to 20 extra hours: say “second income” in the ad.
- Students and parents free in the evenings; community colleges and parent groups.
- Current cleaners’ friends and family, with a referral bonus paid after 90 days.
- People already cleaning for someone else part-time who want a fixed building and a fixed schedule.
Reply to every applicant the same business day and screen by phone for ten minutes before an interview; the screening questions, interview, trial shift and paperwork are in hiring cleaners for your cleaning business.
How do you turn the description into the checklist and schedule?
Once the person is hired, the duty list from the posting becomes two documents: the building checklist they follow each shift, and the schedule that tells them which building, which night and with whom. Keeping all three consistent is what stops “that was never my job” on one side and “the restrooms were skipped again” on the other.
- Checklist. Reorganize the every-shift duties by room in the order the building is cleaned (restrooms last is common, so they are not re-soiled). Add the weekly rotation by day. The free cleaning checklist template and the restroom cleaning log give you the format.
- Schedule. Fixed nights and fixed buildings, published a week ahead. The cleaning schedule template works for a small team on paper or a spreadsheet.
- Specification for the client. The same duty list, with frequencies, attached to the client contract so the client, the supervisor and the cleaner are reading one document.
- Inspection form. The same items again, scored. A posting, a checklist, a spec and an inspection form that all list the same tasks is what a well-run janitorial account looks like.
Broombook (booking, scheduling and reminders for recurring service businesses) is built around the schedule part of this: recurring visits per building, each cleaner’s visits on their phone with the address, notes and the per-visit checklist, reminders before each visit, and one-step reassignment when someone calls off. Inspection scoring, payroll and HR files live elsewhere. See cleaning scheduling software for what it covers and pricing for the plans.