Janitor Resume Example

How to write a janitor resume that lands interviews

A great janitor resume isn't a list of responsibilities — it's a tight stack of quantified outcomes, written in language an ATS scores and a human reader believes. Below: the 8 bullets a strong candidate uses, the 4 they avoid, the keywords the ATS expects, the pay figures to anchor your negotiation against, and the FAQs we hear most often.

Sample bullets — good vs weak

Each “good” bullet leads with the outcome, includes a measurable result, and shows scope. The “weak” versions describe activities without showing impact. Use these as templates; rewrite them in your own voice with your real numbers.

✅ Bullets that get the call

• Cleaned a 60,000-square-foot office building nightly with a 3-person team, completing the route on schedule five nights a week.
• Stripped, sealed and buffed 12,000 square feet of vinyl floor each quarter using an auto scrubber and floor machine.
• Followed safety data sheets and dilution settings for every chemical used, with no spills or exposure incidents in 2 years.
• Disinfected restrooms, break rooms and door handles on a posted checklist that the manager reviewed weekly.
• Tracked supplies on a clipboard log and reordered before shortages, so crews never ran out of liners or paper.
• Extracted carpet stains in conference rooms and lobbies on request, usually within the same shift.
• Locked doors, set alarms and reported broken lights, leaks and damage the same night I found them.
• Trained 3 new cleaners on equipment use, color-coded cloths and the order of cleaning to avoid cross-contamination.

❌ Bullets to rewrite

• Cleaned buildings.
• Mopped and swept floors.
• Reliable, on time and hard working.
• Took out the trash.

ATS keywords to weave into your bullets

The four-component ATS rubric weights keyword density inside experience bullets more heavily than the keywords-only skills section. These are the 14+ keywords most often scored on a janitor resume — fold them into your bullets where they're honestly applicable.

Janitor salary

Annual pay across the United States, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of these workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile figures. Your offer will depend on the state, the employer and the shift.

Want a deeper salary breakdown by city + role + experience? See the full Janitor salary guide →

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

• Writing only 'cleaning'

  Fix: Name the building type, size and the tasks, such as floors, restrooms and carpet.
• Skipping chemical safety

  Fix: Add safety data sheets and training to your skills.
• No sign of dependability

  Fix: Mention attendance, keys and unsupervised shifts.
• Overlong objective

  Fix: Use two lines on your experience and the shift you prefer.

ATS tips specific to janitor resumes

• Use the posting's title, for example 'Custodian' or 'Janitor', in the job title line if it matches your work.
• Write out 'safety data sheets (SDS)' once.
• Include equipment names: auto scrubber, floor buffer, carpet extractor.
• List shifts you can work, since night and weekend availability matters.

Frequently asked questions