Will AI replace cleaners?
Updated
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 |
| Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment to prevent damage to floors and fixtures. Operating power equipment and handling chemicals is hands-on work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Gather and empty trash. Physically collecting and emptying bins across the building. | 5% Needs a person |
| Mix water and detergents or acids in containers to prepare cleaning solutions, according to specifications. Mixing chemicals in containers is physical and safety-sensitive. | 5% Needs a person |
| Dust furniture, walls, machines, or equipment. Dusting surfaces and machines is physical hands-on work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Spray insecticides or fumigants to prevent insect or rodent infestation. Applying pesticides on site requires physical handling and judgment. | 5% Needs a person |
Show the other 11 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Clean and polish furniture and fixtures. Polishing furniture is physical work done on site. | 4% Needs a person |
| Set up, arrange, or remove decorations, tables, chairs, ladders, or scaffolding to prepare facilities for events, such as banquets or meetings. Setting up furniture and ladders for events is physical. | 4% Needs a person |
| Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming. Sweeping and mopping require physical presence and equipment. | 3% Needs a person |
| Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, using soapy water or other cleaners, sponges, or squeegees. Physical window and glass cleaning with tools. | 3% Needs a person |
| Strip, seal, finish, and polish floors. Stripping and polishing floors requires heavy equipment and presence. | 3% Needs a person |
| Remove snow from sidewalks, driveways, or parking areas, using snowplows, snow blowers, or snow shovels, or spread snow-melting chemicals. Snow clearing is outdoor physical work with machinery. | 3% Needs a person |
| Steam-clean or shampoo carpets. Carpet shampooing is physical equipment work on site. | 3% Needs a person |
| Move heavy furniture, equipment, or supplies, either manually or with hand trucks. Lifting and moving heavy items is physical labor. | 2% Needs a person |
| Drive vans, industrial trucks, or other vehicles required to travel to, or to perform, cleaning work. Driving vehicles is physical; AI helps only with routing. | 2% Needs a person |
| Clean chimneys, flues, and connecting pipes, using power or hand tools. Chimney cleaning is hazardous physical work at height. | 2% Needs a person |
| Mow or trim lawns or shrubbery, using mowers or hand or power trimmers, and clear debris from grounds. Mowing and trimming outdoors is physical hands-on work. | 2% Needs a person |
How janitors compare
All occupations (923)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (8)
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.
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.
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