Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in California is $41,090/year ($19.75/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $38,713 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 87.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in California?
About janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 86.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $46K | +12% | 1,240 |
| Napa | $45K | +9% | 1,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $44K | +8% | 29,930 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $44K | +7% | 15,780 |
| Vallejo | $44K | +6% | 1,780 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $44K | +6% | 610 |
| Salinas | $44K | +6% | 1,890 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $43K | +5% | 1,340 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $42K | +3% | 4,060 |
| Yuba City | $42K | +3% | 640 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $42K | +1% | 3,690 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $41K | +1% | 14,020 |
| Modesto | $41K | +0% | 2,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $41K | -1% | 19,520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $41K | -1% | 1,510 |
| El Centro | $40K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $40K | -2% | 3,830 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $39K | -5% | 3,620 |
| Chico | $39K | -5% | 900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $39K | -6% | 83,160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $38K | -6% | 21,700 |
| Visalia | $38K | -8% | 2,380 |
| Fresno | $38K | -8% | 5,770 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $38K | -8% | 2,890 |
| Redding | $38K | -8% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
Compare to other states
Track janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Building & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 86.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,137/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 116% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaner a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $41K here vs. $37K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
California pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make in California?
The median is $41,090 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,610, and experienced janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners can clear $58,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,853/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 86.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary is worth about $38,713 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.