How to become a janitor, caretaker or heavy-duty cleaner
Official title: Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
Also called: Janitor, Plant cleaner, School janitor, Airport janitor, Factory cleaner, Church caretaker, Live-in caretaker, Building caretaker, Campground cleaner, Heavy-duty cleaner, Industrial cleaner, Industrial plant cleaner
Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners clean and maintain the interior and exterior of commercial, institutional and residential buildings and their surrounding grounds. They are employed by office and apartment building management companies, condominium corporations, educational institutions, health care facilities, recreational and shopping facilities, religious, industrial and other establishments.
Main tasks
- Operate industrial vacuum cleaners to remove scraps, dirt, heavy debris and other refuse
- Wash windows, interior walls and ceilings
- Empty trash cans and other waste containers
- Sweep, mop, scrub and wax hallways, floors and stairs
- Clean snow and ice from walkways and parking areas
- Cut grass and tend grounds and plants
- Clean and disinfect washrooms and fixtures
- May move heavy furniture, equipment and supplies
How to become one
Completion of secondary school may be required. Previous cleaning experience may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $41,477 a year The middle half earn $35,100 to $48,750.
- About 107,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 110,200 are projected by 2033. (+3%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a janitor, caretaker or heavy-duty cleaner?
Completion of secondary school may be required. Previous cleaning experience may be required.
How much does a janitor, caretaker or heavy-duty cleaner earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $41,477 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $35,100 to $48,750.
Is a janitor, caretaker or heavy-duty cleaner a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2033, from about 107,000 to about 110,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a janitor, caretaker or heavy-duty cleaner?
Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03