# Will AI replace cleaners? Updated October 2026 Janitors score 14 of 100 for AI exposure. 87% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 6% today and speed up another 7%. - **6%** AI can do it - **7%** AI helps - **87%** Needs a person Low exposure Lower than 91% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 21 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 1 and leaves 19 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Requisition supplies or equipment needed for cleaning and maintenance duties. Ordering supplies is routine digital work AI can handle. | 65% AI can do it | | Notify managers concerning the need for major repairs or additions to building operating systems. AI can draft repair reports; inspecting damage needs a person. | 45% AI helps | | Monitor building security and safety by performing tasks such as locking doors after operating hours or checking electrical appliance use to ensure that hazards are not created. Mostly physical checks, though sensors could flag some hazards. | 15% Needs a person | | Make adjustments or minor repairs to heating, cooling, ventilating, plumbing, or electrical systems. Diagnosing and fixing building systems needs skilled hands on site. | 10% Needs a person | | Service, clean, or supply restrooms. Physical restroom servicing and supply stocking done in person. | 8% Needs a person | ## How janitors compare All occupations (923) Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (8) **Janitors score 14**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 21 for building and grounds cleaning and maintenance. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $36,840 a year, May 2025 People employed 2.2 million in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Order supplies through Microsoft Excel and Outlook purchase records - Run Eko-based cleaning schedules and task logs - Operate floor machines and follow chemical safety procedures - Diagnose minor heating and plumbing faults on site - Report repair needs with photos in Microsoft Word - Hold building maintenance and boiler tending duties in person ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Maids8 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/maids/) - [Vehicle cleaners13 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/vehicle-cleaners/) - [Laundry workers13 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/laundry-workers/) - [Dishwashers8 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/dishwashers/) - [Recycling workers12 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/recycling-workers/) ## Questions about janitors and AI Will cleaners be replaced by AI? Partly. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly requisitioning supplies and drafting repair notices to managers. Most of the job stays with people, because floors, restrooms, glass, heavy lifting and building systems need someone physically on site. Which janitor tasks is AI taking over? Ordering supplies scores highest for exposure at 65 out of 100, since it is routine digital work done in Excel and purchasing systems. Drafting repair reports for managers is next at 45, so AI can write the paperwork while a person still inspects the damage. Which janitor tasks stay human? Cleaning floors, washing windows and moving heavy equipment score 3 or lower for exposure, because they need physical presence and tools. Making minor repairs to heating, plumbing and electrical systems scores 10, since diagnosing faults requires skilled hands on site. How can janitors stay valuable as AI takes on paperwork? Keep the hands-on work that needs a person on site, such as chemical and power equipment use, boiler tending and minor system repairs. Use Eko and Microsoft Excel to log cleaning and supply records, then bring a clear, photographed repair report to managers so your site knowledge stays central. ## Related jobs - [Maintenance workers21 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/maintenance-workers/) - [Landscapers11 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/landscapers/) - [Hazardous materials removal workers14 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/hazardous-materials-removal-workers/) - [Housekeeping supervisors42 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/housekeeping-supervisors/) ## Next steps for janitors - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.