Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Salary in Washington, DC
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $37,840 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,480 take-home, or $2,623 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,361
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,346
- Medicare (1.45%)$549
- District of Columbia income tax$1,104
- Take-home pay$31,480
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,720 | $15.25 | $26,930 | $2,244 |
| 25th percentile | $35,540 | $17.09 | $29,770 | $2,481 |
| Median (50th) | $37,840 | $18.19 | $31,480 | $2,623 |
| 75th percentile | $42,530 | $20.45 | $34,967 | $2,914 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,780 | $23.45 | $39,614 | $3,301 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,840 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners's $31,480 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,912 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.3× the national concentration of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #116 of 138 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $46,490 | $39,535 | $35,574 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $37,200 | $32,070 | $35,292 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,490 | $35,079 | $34,771 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $46,550 | $37,475 | $34,614 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $40,070 | $34,376 | $34,258 |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $39,680 | $33,098 | $34,021 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,490 | $29,966 | $33,827 |
| 8 | Davenport, IA | $35,560 | $30,053 | $33,737 |
| 116 | Washington, DC | $37,840 | $31,480 | $28,912 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 138 metros →
About the job: janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make in Washington, DC?
The median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $37,840 a year, or about $18.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,540 and $42,530.
What is a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $37,840 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $31,480 a year ($2,623 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,104 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $36,840. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,912 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #116 of 138 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.