Average Janitorial Cleaner and Supervisor Stats (By State)

Wages vary dramatically depending on where you work:

Massachusetts cleaners make $21.43/hour.
Mississippi cleaners earn $13.27/hour.

That's a 61% difference — enough to reshape hiring strategies, career decisions, and even migration patterns.

But the numbers get more interesting when you look beyond today's pay. States like Arizona and Idaho are seeing some of the fastest wage growth in the country (6.9% and 6.5% respectively). Within three years, Arizona cleaners are projected to out-earn California's, even though they start lower today.

Key takeaway: If you're a worker chasing higher pay, watch the fast-risers like AZ, ID, and NM. If you're an employer, plan ahead — today's "affordable" markets may not stay that way for long.

Cleaner wages have been on a steady climb since 2020, reflecting post-pandemic labor market realities. At the current growth rate, wages could hit $19.60/hour by 2027 — a 15% jump that adds around $5,200 per worker per year for employers.

Supervisor pay, on the other hand, has grown more slowly — just 2.6% annually — suggesting the gap between frontline and management pay is starting to shrink.

What this means for employers: Promotions may feel less financially rewarding, so retaining managers might require better perks, flexibility, or culture-driven incentives.

Job growth overall is up 1.3%, but here's the twist: 18 states actually lost cleaners — and many of those are the same states seeing the fastest wage hikes.

This imbalance creates two realities. Employers are facing rising competition for fewer workers, while workers can often secure better pay simply by switching markets.

For example:

Montana has seen +3.4% job growth, creating expanding talent pools. Meanwhile, Hawaii experienced a -4.1% job decline, which could present opportunities for companies to consolidate as competitors leave.

Employers in shrinking labor markets may need to boost pay or benefits to stay competitive. Workers, meanwhile, can leverage these shortages to negotiate better compensation.

The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is $8.16/hour — roughly $17,000 more per year.

Massachusetts cleaners: $21.43/hour
Mississippi cleaners: $13.27/hour

But focusing only on current wages misses the bigger picture. Some lower-paying states are experiencing explosive growth:

Arizona: $17.37/hour, +6.9% annually
Idaho: $17.00/hour, +6.5% annually
New Mexico: $16.17/hour, +6.5% annually

For employers, this means rising costs are coming fast in these regions. For workers, these are the "sweet spot" states where pay is climbing quickly and hiring demand remains strong.

Becoming a supervisor can be a huge financial upgrade — but not everywhere.

Rhode Island supervisors earn 70% more than cleaners, a $12.25/hour bump that turns a $36K job into a $62K career.

Texas supervisors, meanwhile, see just a 22% pay increase, which often isn't enough to offset added responsibility.

For employers: In high-premium states like RI, UT, and HI, emphasizing career growth paths is a powerful recruitment tool.

In low-premium states, retention strategies need to focus on culture, flexibility, or competitive base pay instead.