Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Salary
The median pay for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in Tennessee is $33,440/year ($16.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $37,247 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 50.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $33K get you in Tennessee?
About janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $33K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 50.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $36K | +8% | 9,940 |
| Clarksville | $35K | +5% | 1,170 |
| Jackson | $34K | +1% | 740 |
| Morristown | $33K | -2% | 410 |
| Memphis | $33K | -3% | 8,070 |
| Chattanooga | $32K | -5% | 4,140 |
| Knoxville | $31K | -7% | 7,150 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $31K | -7% | 1,540 |
| Johnson City | $30K | -9% | 950 |
| Cleveland | $29K | -12% | N/A |
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 Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 50.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,603/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 76% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $33K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
Tennessee pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make in Tennessee?
The median is $33,440 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,720, and experienced janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners can clear $45,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,409/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 50.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $37,247 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.