Cleans the outside of skyscrapers and tall buildings while suspended from rope descent systems, bosun's chairs or motorized platforms. BLS does not publish separate figures for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners; it counts them within janitor and cleaner, except maids and housekeeping cleaners (SOC 37-2011), whose median pay is $36,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 37-2011
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
High-Rise Window Cleaner in four numbers
- Median pay
- $36,840a year, or $17.71/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $50K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.2%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 321,8002,432,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.4M
- Projected 20352.5M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.4M Projected 2035 2.5M - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school13.5%
- High school62.4%
- Bachelor's23.5%
- Post-doctoral training0.6%
Highest education held by janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners Segment Value Less than high school 13.5% High school 62.4% Bachelor's 23.5% Post-doctoral training 0.6%
Also advertised as: Skyscraper Window Cleaner, Commercial Window Cleaner, Rope Descent Window Cleaner, Swing Stage Window Washer.
Pay
How much do Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners make?
Every high-rise window cleaner in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$36,840
Middle half earn $32,240 to $44,060
- 10th
- $28,640
- 25th
- $32,240
- 75th
- $44,060
- 90th
- $50,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,640 |
| 25th | $32,240 |
| Median | $36,840 |
| 75th | $44,060 |
| 90th | $50,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $36,840
- Median hourly wage
- $17.71/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $38,760
- People employed
- 2,209,760
Versus all US occupations
At $36,840, Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners earn 28% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $14,140 a year.
Versus building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
Inside the Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance group, where the middle occupation pays $46,340, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $50,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,640, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 4% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $45,580, and still leads at $43,099 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $45,580 | $43,099 | 55,490 |
| 2Washington | $45,520 | $42,537 | 47,380 |
| 3New York | $41,640 | $38,584 | 195,250 |
| 4California | $41,090 | $37,112 | 234,240 |
| 5Vermont | $40,910 | $41,763 | 5,130 |
| 6Alaska | $40,510 | $39,576 | 5,200 |
| 7Minnesota | $39,610 | $40,164 | 42,300 |
| 8Oregon | $39,340 | $38,061 | 25,890 |
| 9New Hampshire | $39,150 | $37,585 | 9,420 |
| 10Maine | $38,940 | $40,124 | 9,180 |
Job outlook
Is High-Rise Window Cleaner a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | +2.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners to change 2.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 53,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 321,800 openings are projected each year, 13.2% of the 2,432,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a High-Rise Window Cleaner
There is no degree requirement. Most high-rise window cleaners are trained on the job by their employer, starting on low-rise buildings and moving to taller drops as they gain experience. Training covers rigging, anchor inspection, fall protection and rescue.
The International Window Cleaning Association offers safety training and helped develop the ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 window cleaning safety standard, and OSHA's walking-working surfaces rules govern rope descent systems and anchorages. In some cities, high-rise window cleaners are represented by unions that run their own training. Some workers later add SPRAT or IRATA rope access certification to move into broader facade work.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)62.4%
- Bachelor's Degree23.5%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.5%
- Post-Doctoral Training0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 62.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 23.5% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 13.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a High-Rise Window Cleaner do?
High-rise window cleaners wash the glass and facades of office towers, hotels, hospitals and apartment buildings. They work from rope descent systems and bosun's chairs, from suspended scaffolds and swing stages, or from building maintenance units permanently installed on the roof.
Before a drop, crews inspect roof anchors, set up primary and backup lines, and plan around weather and wind. On the way down they scrub and squeegee windows, clean metal panels and sometimes caulk or inspect the facade. Larger crews may also handle pressure washing, sealant work and minor facade repairs for building managers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect roof anchors, ropes and harnesses before each drop
- Rig rope descent systems, bosun's chairs or swing stages
- Descend building faces while cleaning glass and frames
- Clean metal panels, signage and facade surfaces
- Monitor wind and weather and stop work when unsafe
- Set up ground-level barricades to protect pedestrians
- Practice rescue procedures with the crew
- Report facade damage or failed sealant to building managers
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
This work is outdoors and at height, often hundreds of feet above the street, and it stops in high wind, rain or lightning. It is physically demanding, with long periods of hanging in a harness. Work is often seasonal in colder climates, with early starts to avoid heat and pedestrian traffic.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Monitoring2.8
- Active Learning2.6
- Reading Comprehension2.5
- Writing2.4
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Monitoring | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Service Orientation2.5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4
- Complex Problem Solving2.3
- Operations Monitoring2.3
- Persuasion2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.3 |
| Persuasion | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Desktop communications software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a High-Rise Window Cleaner?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RC) built on O*NET's Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | High-Rise Window Cleaner |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.7
- Conventional5.1
- Social2.1
- Enterprising1.7
- Investigative1.1
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to High-Rise Window Cleaner
O*NET related occupations
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
$36,840median a year
Most earn $29K to $50K
+2.2%No formal credential - Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Transportation and Material Moving
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
$35,830median a year
Most earn $27K to $48K
+3.9%No formal credential - Production
- Construction and Extraction
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner
$49,880median a year
Most earn $37K to $73K
+7.8%High school - Food Preparation and Serving Related
More building and grounds cleaning and maintenance careers
Median annual pay, with janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners highlighted
- First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,430
- Sports Turf Manager$58,430
- Tree Trimmer and Pruner$50,960
- Consulting Arborist$50,960
- Utility Line Clearance Arborist$50,960
- Pest Control Worker$45,250
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$39,150
- Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- High-Rise Window Cleaner$36,840
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisor of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $58,430 |
| Sports Turf Manager | $58,430 |
| Tree Trimmer and Pruner | $50,960 |
| Consulting Arborist | $50,960 |
| Utility Line Clearance Arborist | $50,960 |
| Pest Control Worker | $45,250 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker | $39,150 |
| Janitor and Cleaner, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,840 |
| High-Rise Window Cleaner | $36,840 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists High-Rise Window Cleaner appears on
Questions
High-Rise Window Cleaner: frequently asked questions
How much do Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners. It counts them within janitor and cleaner, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, whose median pay is $36,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $32,240 and $44,060, and the top 10% earn $50,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a High-Rise Window Cleaner?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is High-Rise Window Cleaner a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.2% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 321,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a High-Rise Window Cleaner do?
High-rise window cleaners wash the glass and facades of office towers, hotels, hospitals and apartment buildings. A typical task: inspect roof anchors, ropes and harnesses before each drop. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners the most?
The highest state medians for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners are Massachusetts ($45,580), Washington ($45,520), New York ($41,640) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a High-Rise Window Cleaner?
O*NET scores Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.