Here is a short roundup of what moved in US cleaning this month, and what it means whether you hire cleaners or clean for a living.
TL;DR. Labour is the story again. Janitorial wages are up about 26.7 percent over five years, employers face roughly 321,800 openings a year, and the US janitorial market is now worth around 112 billion dollars.
Key facts
- US janitorial services revenue is estimated at about 112 billion dollars in 2026, growing near 1.8 percent on the year at a five year compound rate around 2.7 percent, across roughly 1 to 1.23 million businesses employing about 2 million workers, per IBISWorld and ISSA figures reported by Cleaning and Maintenance Management.
- The median wage for janitors and building cleaners was 17.71 dollars an hour, about 36,840 dollars a year, in May 2025, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Employers face roughly 321,800 openings a year for janitors and building cleaners through 2035, mostly to replace people who leave the role, even though headcount is only projected to grow about 2 percent, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Janitorial wages have risen about 26.7 percent over five years, per a Nassco analysis reported on 28 September 2026.
Wages are climbing fast
The clearest trend is pay. A Nassco analysis carried by PR Newswire and Facility Executive on 28 to 30 September 2026 put the five year rise in janitorial wages at about 26.7 percent. Speaking at the ISSA Altus Summit in Rosemont, Illinois, 4M Building Solutions reported the average janitorial wage up about 8.7 percent year on year, with the producer price index for nonresidential cleaning up about 9.7 percent, driven largely by minimum wage increases.
For cleaners, that is good news. Pay is moving up and reliable people are in demand. For anyone hiring, it means the lowest bid is rarely the real price once you count re-cleans and churn.
The labour crunch sets the price floor
Finding and keeping reliable cleaners is the industry's biggest constraint. Turnover in commercial janitorial work is often cited at 75 to 150 percent a year, among the highest of any blue collar trade, and industry surveys suggest a large share of firms cannot fully staff their contracts. With about 321,800 openings a year on the Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, demand for good cleaners is steady and strong.
That shortage is what sets the price floor. The cheapest quote is often the one cutting corners on vetting, insurance or fair pay, so paying a fair market rate is usually the cheaper option once you count the cost of doing a job twice.
A big, fragmented market
The US janitorial market is large and highly fragmented. Commercial cleaning makes up the bulk of it, around 82 percent of revenue by the IBISWorld split reported by Cleaning and Maintenance Management, with residential and specialty work making up the rest. No single company holds even a small share of the market, which means there is room for independent cleaners and small firms to win good local work.
In big metros like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, office and facility demand is steady, and the move to recurring contracts over one off jobs rewards cleaners who show up and do reliable work.
What it means if you hire or clean
If you hire cleaners, expect to pay a fair market rate and compete on trust, reliability and respect, not just price. Post a clear job, be upfront on pay, and you will attract better people. If you clean for a living, your skills are in short supply, so now is a good time to find steady work, get listed, and build repeat clients.
CQD New Gen is free on both sides right now. Cleaners keep 100 percent of what they earn, and posting a cleaning job is free with no commission. You can find work or hire help in a few minutes.
FAQ
How big is the cleaning industry in the US in 2026?
US janitorial services revenue is estimated at about 112 billion dollars in 2026, growing near 1.8 percent on the year, across roughly 1 to 1.23 million businesses employing about 2 million workers, according to IBISWorld and ISSA figures reported by Cleaning and Maintenance Management. Measured more broadly to include all residential and commercial cleaning, estimates run higher.
How much do cleaners earn in the US?
The median wage for janitors and building cleaners was 17.71 dollars an hour, about 36,840 dollars a year, in May 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies widely by city and sector, and wages have risen about 26.7 percent over five years on a Nassco analysis reported in September 2026.
Why can cleaning companies not find enough cleaners?
Turnover in commercial janitorial work is very high, often cited at 75 to 150 percent a year, and a large share of firms report they cannot fully staff contracts. With about 321,800 openings a year projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reliable cleaners are in short supply, which is why fair pay and good conditions are now the main way to attract and keep good people.
How many cleaning job openings are there in the US each year?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 321,800 openings a year for janitors and building cleaners through 2035, mostly to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, even though the role is only projected to grow about 2 percent over the decade.
How do I hire a cleaner or find cleaning work in the US?
You can post a cleaning job or create a cleaner profile free on CQD New Gen. It is free on both sides right now, cleaners keep 100 percent, and there is no commission. Visit www.cqdnewgen.ai to get started.