Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in Columbia, SC is $32,170/year ($15.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $34,348 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month, about 58.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $32K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in Columbia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,276/month, which is 55.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleanerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $31K | $33K |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $35K | $35K |
| Spartanburg | $32K | $35K |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $30K | $32K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $46K | +24% | 55,490 |
| Washington | $46K | +24% | 47,380 |
| New York | $42K | +13% | 195,250 |
| California | $41K | +12% | 234,240 |
| Vermont | $41K | +11% | 5,130 |
| Alaska | $41K | +10% | 5,200 |
| Minnesota | $40K | +8% | 42,300 |
| Oregon | $39K | +7% | 25,890 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +6% | 9,420 |
| Maine | $39K | +6% | 9,180 |
| Colorado | $39K | +5% | 34,220 |
| District of Columbia | $39K | +5% | 16,400 |
| Nevada | $38K | +4% | 32,830 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +3% | 28,740 |
| Illinois | $38K | +3% | 93,760 |
| North Dakota | $38K | +2% | 6,720 |
| Hawaii | $38K | +2% | 11,230 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +2% | 67,660 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | +1% | 7,270 |
| Montana | $37K | +1% | 8,320 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | +0% | 45,640 |
| Maryland | $37K | -1% | 40,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -1% | 86,920 |
| Indiana | $36K | -1% | 49,220 |
| Arizona | $36K | -2% | 38,290 |
| Idaho | $36K | -2% | 10,800 |
| Michigan | $36K | -2% | 65,790 |
| Wyoming | $36K | -2% | 4,760 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -2% | 14,360 |
| Ohio | $36K | -3% | 72,540 |
| Nebraska | $36K | -3% | 12,860 |
| Missouri | $36K | -3% | 41,070 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -4% | 8,630 |
| Iowa | $35K | -4% | 23,960 |
| Delaware | $35K | -4% | 9,220 |
| Virginia | $35K | -5% | 65,970 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -6% | 53,330 |
| Florida | $34K | -6% | 131,900 |
| Kansas | $34K | -6% | 17,220 |
| Georgia | $34K | -7% | 55,660 |
| Tennessee | $33K | -9% | 38,120 |
| Texas | $33K | -10% | 184,840 |
| Kentucky | $32K | -12% | 25,750 |
| Utah | $32K | -13% | 24,710 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -15% | 30,100 |
| Oklahoma | $31K | -16% | 23,620 |
| West Virginia | $31K | -16% | 9,340 |
| Alabama | $31K | -17% | 25,110 |
| Arkansas | $30K | -19% | 19,490 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -21% | 27,610 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -23% | 15,940 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 55.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,417/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 90% 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 Columbia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $32K here vs. $37K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
Columbia pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $32,170 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,620, and experienced janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners can clear $43,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 55.8% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary is worth about $34,348 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.