Janitors and cleaners in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
237,680 people work as janitors and cleaners in California, and the median pay is $38,640 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 6,956 janitorial service businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 4.7 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 4.7 nationally.
California ranks 5 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 26 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 237,680
- Median pay, a year
- $38,640
- Businesses with employees
- 6,956
Janitors and cleaners in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 6,956 | 67,799 |
| Their employees | 116,330 | 1,088,193 |
| Annual payroll | $4,202,569,000 | $32,742,664,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $36,126 | $30,089 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Jobs | 237,680 | 2,199,900 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 13.16 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.92 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What janitors and cleaners earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $38,640 | $35,930 |
| Median pay, an hour | $18.58 | $17.27 |
| 10th percentile | $34,620 | $27,570 |
| 25th percentile | $35,830 | $30,830 |
| 75th percentile | $47,080 | $41,650 |
| 90th percentile | $57,880 | $49,040 |
| Average pay, a year | $42,790 | $37,460 |
Janitors and cleaners by county in California
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in buildings of 20 or more units | 13.6% (±0.1 points) | 10.3% |
| Homes in buildings of 10 to 19 units | 4.9% (±0.1 points) | 4.3% |
| Households that rent | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Housing units | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
Licenses for janitors and cleaners in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for janitors and cleaners
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
What you can do on Seayora in California
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Questions about California
How much do janitors and cleaners make in California?
The median pay for janitors and cleaners in California is $38,640 a year, against $35,930 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many janitors and cleaners work in California?
237,680 people work as janitors and cleaners in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many janitorial service businesses are in California?
The Census Bureau counts 6,956 janitorial service businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do janitors and cleaners need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: janitors and cleaners in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- OSHA hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .