Career Explorer Buildings and grounds
Changing shape
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 61% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.2% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and physical dexterity.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $49,100
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.2%
- Openings a year
- 30,800
- People doing it (2025)
- 265,000
- Usual route in
- High school diploma
Where people already use AI for this work
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Advise others on business or operational matters
- Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Train others on operational or work procedures
- Supervise personnel activities
- Maintain operational records
What the work looks like
- Supervise in-house services, such as laundries, maintenance and repair, dry cleaning, or valet services.
- Select the most suitable cleaning materials for different types of linens, furniture, flooring, and surfaces.
- Advise managers, desk clerks, or admitting personnel of rooms ready for occupancy.
- Inspect work performed to ensure that it meets specifications and established standards.
- Perform or assist with cleaning duties as necessary.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Hearing aid specialistsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +19.4%
- Medical assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +12.9%
- Occupational therapy aidesHuman edge, growing, Index 82, +3.6%
- Healthcare support workers, all otherHuman edge, growing, Index 83, +4.8%
Also known as: Environmental Services Supervisor (EVS), Executive Housekeeper, Housekeeping Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor, Building Services Supervisor, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor, Custodian Supervisor, Janitorial Supervisor.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.