Earn A Living As A School Janitor?

Answer 1

Schools require constant cleaning and janitorial services due to the high volume of human traffic. School administrators and public health authorities are well aware of the possibility of disease transmission between students, teachers, and others who frequent the premises. Many public schools hire their own sanitation and custodial staff, but most trade schools, private schools and small colleges use the services of an independent janitorial company.

Janitorial Positions With Public School DistrictsThese jobs are offered by the city or municipality that operates the school system. The employee may or may not be required to join a union. The working hours are generally from one hour before school begins to about one hour after classes are dismissed for the day. A regular schedule of floor cleaning and waxing is also part of a school janitor's job duties. This work usually takes place in the evening or on the weekend.

Job duties of a public school janitor include emptying trash and recyclable materials, mopping of floors, sanitizing desktops and other surfaces, and disinfecting door knobs, light switches and computer equipment. The bathrooms must be cleaned on a daily basis, and most custodial duties include light Plumbing and electrical maintenance as needed. School janitors are asked to complete a materials list and inventory report on a regular basis.

Specialized Cleaning Contractors

Many trade and technical schools hire an independent cleaning service. A large-scale cleaning operation at a private school or college is a daily procedure because of the high traffic volume. The schedule for this service can be quite complex because many classes are held at night. Certain areas of the school are cleaned at different times, and the crews that perform this work are usually headed by a team leader.

Independent cleaning services that specialize in school janitorial work usually hire their employees directly. These workers are generally not part of a union, and the job openings are listed in printed and online advertisements. Most of the larger cleaning contractors that work with private schools and colleges have an online page that includes information on how to apply for a position.

Salaries For School Janitors And Custodians

School districts offer janitorial wages that generally fall into the labor category. If the school district has a contract with a union, the wages will be based on the prevailing salaries for that region of the country. Most public school cleaning positions begin at about 30 percent above minimum wage. Independent cleaning services usually create specialized janitorial crews that work at various locations in a city or town. The wage for beginners is about 20 percent above minimum salary, and raises are given based on performance and attendance record. Crew leaders often earn twice the salary of new employees. This is partly due to their experience and increased job duties. It also reflects their willingness to work all shifts and on weekends.