truest.me
Sector

Careers in Building Maintenance & Cleaning

Building maintenance and cleaning keeps commercial spaces functional — employing about 1.9 million Americans at pay roughly 30% below national median. It's accessible work that doesn't require credentials, which keeps wages modest despite the essential nature of the service.

2.2M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$42K
Median salary
Across all roles
Building Maintenance & Cleaning jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Building Maintenance & Cleaning employment by metro · ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ36K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA20K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN16K
4.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX13K
5.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV13K

Jobs per 100K workforce — measures industry density

1.Ponce, PR857.8
2.Naples-Marco Island, FL771.9
3.Kahului-Wailuku, HI733.8
4.Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC681
5.Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL666.8
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Building Maintenance & Cleaning

Building maintenance and cleaning keeps facilities running — there's satisfaction in tangible results, essential service, and spaces that work because of your effort. Many find meaning in the visible impact of clean, functional buildings.

The challenge can come from physical demands and off-hours work. Cleaning and maintenance are physically active. Hours often include nights and weekends when buildings are empty. Pay is typically modest. The work can be invisible to those who benefit.

The field varies by setting and role. Commercial cleaning differs from residential, industrial, or specialized services. Maintenance technicians have different paths than custodial staff. In-house facility teams operate differently than contracted services.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: tangible results, often steady employment, accessible entry, and work that keeps spaces functional. If you want hands-on facilities work, can handle physical demands, and appreciate essential service, building maintenance offers straightforward opportunities.

How people break in

Entry is highly accessible — most positions hire without credentials. Advancement comes from reliability and willingness to learn specialized skills (HVAC basics, electrical safety). Facilities management certifications help for supervisory roles but aren't required to start.

Work environment tends toward
Physical workShift schedulesLarge employersAccessible entryOn-site required
Salary vs. national average
-42%
$42K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level →
Salary range across all building maintenance & cleaning roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$89K
2. Boulder$76K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Trenton-Princeton$70K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$69K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$100K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap — metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $100K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont · $87K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $89K adj.
Boulder · $76K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York · 19.8M
Los Angeles · 13.1M
Chicago · 9.8M
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts — signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Building Maintenance & Cleaning.

🚪
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Administrative Services data
25%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
3%vs. 22% all industries
🏢
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
97%
Small
<50
2%
Mid
50–249
0%
Large
250+
🏠
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
📋
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
🤝
Union Presence
Based on all Administrative Services data
~6%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
6%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Building Maintenance & Cleaning

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Transportation · Staffing agencies and third-party logistics providers supplying drivers, warehouse workers, and transportation personnel on contract.
13%
$38K median
Explore →
Facilities · Facilities management companies and commercial property services. Multi-site oversight, vendor management, career paths to regional roles.
12%
$40K median
Explore →
Maintenance & Repair · Facilities maintenance and property management. Multi-trade skills valued, steady work, path to facilities management.
12%
$38K median
Explore →
Personal Care · Corporate wellness programs and employee services. Steadier hours than salons, benefits packages, growing corporate focus.
12%
$39K median
Explore →
Construction · Facilities maintenance and property management. Steady work, predictable schedules, good for those transitioning from field to facility-based roles.
11%
$37K median
Explore →
Engineering · Facilities engineering and building systems. Steady work, predictable hours, good work-life balance compared to project-based consulting.
10%
$37K median
Explore →
Median salary for occupations employed within Building Maintenance & Cleaning. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Building Maintenance & Cleaning

Understand your strengths, plan your next move, and build your career record.

Get Started with Truest
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.