Cleaning jobs are open in cities and towns across Canada in 2026, in offices, schools, hospitals, stores, condos and industrial sites. Most need no diploma, and many offer evening or part-time hours that fit around school or another job. This guide explains the main types of cleaning work, pay by province according to Job Bank, training and funding, your rights and how to apply.
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On October 23, 2026, a Job Bank search for “cleaner” returned about 1,330 postings outside Quebec, led by British Columbia (373), Ontario (335) and Alberta (244). The work suits people who are reliable, like working independently and want a job where results are easy to see at the end of a shift.
We are not a cleaning company or an agency, and we do not take applications. The button below opens Job Bank, the Government of Canada’s job board, with current cleaner postings. You apply directly with each employer, and applying is always free.
Types of cleaning jobs
“Cleaner” covers several different jobs. The setting changes your schedule, the equipment you use and what the employer asks for.
| Setting | Typical schedule | What employers often ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Offices and commercial buildings | Evenings and nights, after staff leave | Reliability, security clearance for keys or alarm codes |
| Schools and public buildings | Afternoon and evening shifts | Background check, floor machine skills |
| Hospitals and care homes | Day, evening and night rotations | Infection control training, attention to detail |
| Residential and condo cleaning | Daytime, often part time | Own transport, trust and good references |
| Industrial and post-construction | Day or night, project based | Safety boots, physical strength, safety training |
Duties of a cleaner or janitor
Light duty cleaners handle daily tasks: dusting, vacuuming, mopping, emptying bins, cleaning washrooms and restocking soap and paper. Janitors and custodians, a separate Job Bank occupation, add heavier work such as machine scrubbing and waxing floors, minor repairs, snow clearing and checking building systems.
In every setting you follow a cleaning schedule, use chemicals safely and report damage or hazards. In hospitals, you also follow strict infection control steps between rooms.
What employers look for
Most cleaning jobs need no formal education. Employers want people who show up on time, work without close supervision and can stand, bend and lift for a full shift.
Anúncios
You need the legal right to work in Canada and a Social Insurance Number once hired. Many employers ask for a criminal record check, especially for schools, hospitals and homes. Residential cleaning companies may ask for a driver’s licence and a car, and some industrial jobs ask for safety boots.
Cleaning jobs pay by province
Job Bank publishes separate wages for light duty cleaners (NOC 65310) and janitors and custodians (NOC 65312). These are medians for all workers in each occupation, and each posting shows the real rate.
| Province or territory | Cleaner median ($/hour) | Janitor/custodian median ($/hour) |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 19.74 | 21.27 |
| Alberta | 18.20 | 20.03 |
| British Columbia | 20.00 | 24.65 |
| Manitoba | 17.00 | 20.15 |
| New Brunswick | 17.50 | 20.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19.00 | 20.81 |
| Nova Scotia | 17.05 | 19.00 |
| Ontario | 19.00 | 22.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | 18.00 | 20.77 |
| Saskatchewan | 18.00 | 20.62 |
| Northwest Territories | 21.00 | 23.12 |
| Nunavut | 23.00 | 25.00 |
| Yukon | 24.64 | 28.00 |
Source: Job Bank wage reports for cleaners and custodians, updated November 19, 2025 (reference period mostly 2023–2024). In every province, your pay cannot be below the minimum wage, which on October 23, 2026 is $17.95 in Ontario, $18.25 in B.C. and $15.00 in Alberta.
Hours and shifts
Office and commercial cleaning usually happens in the evening or overnight, often in part-time shifts. Many cleaners combine two part-time jobs, for example a school shift in the afternoon and an office shift at night.
Hospitals run around the clock, so expect rotations that include weekends. Residential cleaning is mostly daytime work. Ask how many hours per week are guaranteed, whether travel time between sites is paid and how holidays are scheduled.
How to apply for cleaning jobs, step by step
- Open Job Bank with the button on this page and search “cleaner”, “janitor” or “custodian” with your city or postal code.
- Choose the setting and shift that fit your life: evenings in offices, days in homes or rotations in hospitals.
- Read the posting for hours, location, transport needs and checks such as a criminal record check.
- Confirm the employer on its own website or with a phone call to its main number.
- Prepare a short résumé that lists any cleaning, caretaking, hospitality or maintenance work, plus your availability.
- Apply with the method shown in the posting, and follow up after a week if a contact is given.
- Before you start, ask for your pay rate, hours and work sites in writing.
Training, certificates and funding
Most employers train you on their products and procedures. In Ontario, employers must make sure workers are trained on hazardous products before using them. You can add a WHMIS for Workers e-course from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for $19.95, which takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
If you want to move up to supervisor, building operator or a trade, public funding can help with longer training.
| Program | Where | What it can cover |
|---|---|---|
| Better Jobs Ontario | Ontario | Up to $28,000 for training of one year or less, up to $35,000 for programs up to two years, for eligible laid-off workers and some low-income job seekers |
| Ontario Job Grant | Ontario (employers) | Up to $10,000 per trainee, with more support for small employers |
| StrongerBC future skills grant | British Columbia | Up to $3,500 for eligible short-term training at public post-secondary institutions |
| Canada–Alberta Productivity Grant | Alberta (employers) | 75% of eligible training costs, up to $5,000 per employed trainee per year |
| Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students | All provinces and Yukon (not the N.W.T. or Nunavut) | Up to $2,520 per school year until the end of 2026–27 |
Sources: Government of Ontario, WorkBC, Government of Alberta and Government of Canada program pages, checked October 2026.
Your rights at work
Cleaners are covered by their province’s employment standards, whether full time, part time or casual. You must be paid at least the minimum wage for all hours worked, including mandatory training.
- Overtime: after 44 hours a week in Ontario, after 8 hours a day or 40 a week in B.C., and after 8 hours a day or 44 a week in Alberta, whichever is greater.
- Written terms: in Ontario, employers with 25 or more employees must give new staff written information on pay, pay day and hours before the first day.
- Probation: termination notice or pay generally starts after three months of work in Ontario and B.C., and after 90 days in Alberta.
- Agencies: in Ontario, temporary help agencies must hold a licence and cannot charge you a fee to be hired, placed or helped with your résumé.
Ontario has a special rule for building services, which include cleaning. If your employer loses a building contract and the new contractor chooses not to hire you, the new contractor generally has to meet the termination and severance obligations, with some exceptions.
Résumé and interview tips
List the settings you have cleaned, the machines you can use and any safety training. Reliability matters most in this field, so mention good attendance and references from past supervisors or clients.
In the interview, explain how you plan your shift so nothing is missed. Ask which products are used, whether gloves and other protective equipment are provided and how many sites you will cover.
Common mistakes
- Taking a job without asking whether travel between sites is paid.
- Mixing cleaning chemicals or skipping gloves and eye protection.
- Working as a “contractor” without understanding that you then pay your own expenses and taxes.
- Not keeping your own record of hours worked.
- Ignoring background check requirements until after an offer.
If you clean as a self-employed worker, the Canada Revenue Agency requires you to register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
How to spot cleaning job scams
Fake cleaning jobs often arrive by text and offer high pay for easy work. A common version sends you a cheque to “buy supplies” and asks you to return the extra money. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists counterfeit cheques, job offers you did not apply for and upfront deposits as warning signs.
- Never pay for a starter kit, uniform, training or a “placement”.
- Never send your SIN, ID or banking details by text, WhatsApp or social media before a real written offer. The Government of Canada says your SIN is only required after hiring.
- Never deposit a cheque and send part of it back.
Report fraud to your bank, local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Similar jobs
Cleaning experience opens other doors. See our guide to hotel housekeeping jobs for resort and city hotels. If you already work nights in commercial buildings, read about the security guard licence. Starting from scratch? Our list of jobs with no experience has more options.
Frequently asked questions
Do cleaning jobs need experience?
Most do not. Employers usually train new cleaners on their products and routines. Experience helps for hospital, industrial and supervisor roles.
How much do cleaning jobs pay in Canada?
Job Bank shows a national median of $19.74 an hour for light duty cleaners and $21.27 for janitors and custodians. Each posting shows the actual rate.
Are cleaning jobs available at night?
Yes. Office and commercial cleaning is often done in the evening or overnight, after the building closes. Hospitals also have night shifts.
Do I need WHMIS training for cleaning jobs?
You must be trained on the hazardous products you use, and in Ontario the employer must make sure this happens before you use them. Many employers provide it, and an online course costs $19.95.
What happens if my cleaning company loses its contract?
In Ontario, if the new building services provider does not hire you, it generally has to meet termination and severance obligations. Rules differ in other provinces.
Where can I find real cleaning jobs?
On Job Bank, the Government of Canada’s job board, and on employers’ own careers pages. You always apply with the employer, and applying is free.
Sources
- Job Bank: Cleaner wages in Canada
- Job Bank: Janitor and custodian wages in Canada
- Ontario: Building services providers
- Ontario: Better Jobs Ontario
- Ontario: WHMIS in the workplace
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Job scams
