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Jobs Similar to Janitors and Cleaners

Also called: Janitors and Cleaners

The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to janitors and cleaners, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, Hazardous Materials Removal Workers and Tapers.

Janitors and Cleaners: $36,840 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.

Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers

The 20 most similar careers

  1. 1Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

    76% similar · $40,240 (+9%) · High school

  2. 2Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

    76% similar · $49,450 (+34%) · High school

  3. 3Tapers

    75% similar · $68,270 (+85%) · High school

  4. 4Aircraft Service Attendants

    75% similar · $40,450 (+10%) · High school

  5. 5Transportation Security Screeners

    74% similar · $66,770 (+81%) · High school

  6. 6Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

    74% similar · $35,510 (−4%) · High school · Same group

  7. 7Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

    74% similar · $68,840 (+87%) · High school

  8. 8Forest and Conservation Workers

    72% similar · $43,680 (+19%) · High school

  9. 9Light Truck Drivers

    71% similar · $44,860 (+22%) · High school

  10. 10Bridge and Lock Tenders

    71% similar · $57,700 (+57%) · High school

  11. 11Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

    71% similar · $58,470 (+59%) · High school

  12. 12Dishwashers

    71% similar · $34,810 (−6%) · High school

  13. 13Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

    70% similar · $34,890 (−5%) · High school

  14. 14Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs

    70% similar · $37,290 (+1%) · High school

  15. 15Orderlies

    70% similar · $38,290 (+4%) · High school

  16. 16Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

    70% similar · $56,870 (+54%) · Training or associate

  17. 17Hoist and Winch Operators

    70% similar · $56,450 (+53%) · High school

  18. 18Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

    70% similar · $60,600 (+64%) · High school

  19. 19Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders

    70% similar · $43,220 (+17%) · High school

  20. 20Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

    69% similar · $35,830 (−3%) · High school

Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology

Similar jobs that pay more

Only careers that usually need no more preparation than janitors and cleaners.

Similar jobs that need less preparation

Thinking of a career change?

Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for janitors and cleaners also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.

Jobs for former janitors and cleaners →

Jobs that can lead here

Careers where janitors and cleaners is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).

Questions about jobs like janitors and cleaners

What jobs are most similar to janitors and cleaners?

By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (76% similar), Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (76% similar), Tapers (75% similar), Aircraft Service Attendants (75% similar) and Transportation Security Screeners (74% similar).

Which jobs like janitors and cleaners pay more?

Among the 20 most similar careers, Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers ($68,840, +87%; usually a high school diploma), Tapers ($68,270, +85%; usually a high school diploma) and Transportation Security Screeners ($66,770, +81%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with janitors and cleaners ($36,840). Without more preparation than janitors and cleaners usually need: Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers, Tapers and Transportation Security Screeners.

How is the similarity percentage worked out?

We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.

Keep exploring

Sources. Skills, tasks and education: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data Sources & Licenses