In-House Janitor vs. Cleaning Company: What It Really Costs
An in-house janitor can look cheaper on paper, because the hourly wage is the only number most people see. Add payroll taxes, insurance, supplies, equipment, training and coverage for sick days, and a full-time janitor costs a lot more than the wage.
For many buildings, an outside cleaning company comes out ahead once everything is counted, and someone else handles the hiring, the call-outs and the equipment. Here is how to run the numbers for your building in Omaha, Lincoln or anywhere in between.
What a janitor earns
Start with the wage. Nationally, the median pay for janitors and building cleaners was $17.71 an hour in May 2025, or about $36,840 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, Janitors and Building Cleaners).
In the Omaha metro, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance jobs paid an average of $19.56 an hour that same month (BLS, Occupational Employment and Wages in Omaha). That is what lands in the paycheck. Your cost as the employer starts there.
The costs on top of the wage
Here is a simple example. Take one full-time janitor at the national median, about $36,840 a year in wages. Then add:
- Social Security and Medicare. Employers pay 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare on top of wages (IRS, Topic 751). That is 7.65%, or about $2,820 a year in this example.
- Unemployment tax and workers' comp. Federal and state unemployment taxes and workers' compensation insurance add more. Your payroll provider and insurance agent can give you your rates.
- Benefits and paid time off. Health insurance, holidays and vacation days cost money, and the building still needs cleaning while your janitor is out.
- Supplies and chemicals. Floor cleaner, disinfectant, liners, mop heads and microfiber all have to be bought, stored and restocked.
- Equipment. Vacuums, an auto-scrubber, a carpet extractor and a floor machine are real purchases, and they break down.
- Hiring and training. Job ads, interviews, background checks and training time add up every time you fill the job.
In this example, you are near $39,660 a year before workers' comp, unemployment tax, benefits, supplies, equipment or a single sick day.
The costs nobody budgets for
Some costs never show up as a line item, but you feel them.
- Sick days and quits. When your only janitor is out, the trash still fills up. Either the work waits or someone on your staff does it.
- Turnover. BLS projects about 321,800 openings for janitors and building cleaners each year, mostly to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce. Every time your janitor leaves, you pay to hire and train again.
- Your time. Someone has to schedule the work, check it and handle problems. That is usually a manager with other things to do.
- Hours you don't need. If your building needs a few hours of cleaning a night, a full-time hire means paying for a whole position to do part of a job.
What you pay for with Sanitize360
With an outside crew, you pay one written price for the work your building needs. Here is what comes with it at Sanitize360:
- Supplies and equipment are included in the price.
- If a cleaner is sick or quits, we send someone else. You never have to find a fill-in.
- A supervisor checks the work on a regular schedule.
- No long-term contract.
- Bonded, with $4M aggregate general liability.
- Crews trained on the S360 STEP method, in English and Spanish.
- A 24/7 line to ownership.
We are a family-owned, owner-run company, founded in 2019, and our crews clean more than 750,000 square feet every day across Nebraska and Iowa. See our office cleaning and janitorial services and our commercial floor care.
In-house janitor vs. Sanitize360 at a glance
| Cost or task | In-house janitor | Sanitize360 |
|---|---|---|
| Wages | You pay for every scheduled hour | One written price for your scope |
| Social Security and Medicare (7.65%) | On top of wages | Not your cost |
| Workers' comp and unemployment tax | You carry them | Not your cost |
| Benefits and paid time off | Your cost if you offer them | Not your cost |
| Supplies and chemicals | You buy and restock them | Included |
| Equipment and repairs | You buy it and fix it | Included |
| Sick days and quits | The work waits or your staff covers | We send someone else |
| Hiring and training | You start over each time | Our job |
| Checking the work | Your time | A supervisor checks on a schedule |
| Liability coverage | Your policy | Bonded, $4M aggregate general liability |
| Commitment | An employee, with payroll and HR | No long-term contract |
When in-house makes sense
An in-house employee can be the right call if you need someone on site all day for setups, deliveries, small repairs and cleaning. Some buildings pair an in-house day person with a cleaning crew at night. Either way, compare the full cost, not just the wage.
Run your own numbers
Print this worksheet, fill in your numbers, then compare the total with a written price.
| Line item | Your yearly cost |
|---|---|
| Wages (hourly rate x hours per year) | $ |
| Social Security and Medicare (wages x 7.65%) | $ |
| Unemployment tax and workers' comp | $ |
| Benefits and paid time off | $ |
| Cleaning supplies and chemicals | $ |
| Equipment, repairs and replacement | $ |
| Covering sick days and vacations | $ |
| Hiring and training | $ |
| Your time managing and checking the work | $ |
| Total in-house cost | $ |
A fair written price is based on your square footage, how often you need service and the condition of your building. That is how we price every account, after a no-obligation walkthrough. We serve Lincoln, Omaha, Council Bluffs and the towns between.
In-house janitor vs. cleaning company FAQ
Is it cheaper to hire a janitor or a cleaning company?
It depends on how many hours your building needs. Once you add payroll taxes, insurance, supplies, equipment and coverage for sick days, a cleaning company often costs less than a full-time hire, especially when your building needs a few hours a night. Compare your full in-house cost with a written price.
What does a janitor cost besides wages?
Employers pay 7.65% of wages for Social Security and Medicare, plus unemployment taxes and workers' comp. Then add benefits, paid time off, supplies, equipment, hiring, training and the cost of covering absences.
Do cleaning companies bring their own supplies and equipment?
Many do, but ask before you sign. At Sanitize360, supplies and equipment are included in the price.
What happens if our cleaner calls in sick?
With an in-house janitor, you find a fill-in or the work waits. With Sanitize360, we send someone else.
Want to see how your numbers compare? Book a no-obligation walkthrough and we will give you a written scope and price.
