Types

• A custodian supervisor may be in charge of a staff that cleans buildings on a regular schedule based on a renewable contract, or supervise personnel who provide services to individuals or companies that require a single cleaning. In the former situation, the buildings she and her crew clean may be offices, manufacturing plants or production facilities. The latter customers are frequently residential clients or companies that need a one-time service to prepare for a special event or require a thorough cleaning prior to selling or vacating premises.
  
  

Job Duties

• Supervising, managing and motivating his staff to provide quality service is the main concern of a custodian supervisor. The tasks he assigns his employees are dictated by client needs. Jobs range from simple daily or weekly dusting and vacuuming of office spaces to heavy-duty industrial cleaning of plants and factories. The supervisor may also oversee occasional labor-intensive projects like stripping wax from tile floors or high-gloss polishing of hardwood surfaces. Related jobs he supervises include carpet and upholstery shampooing, cleaning large fixtures and appliances, garbage collection and restroom maintenance.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Since each job a custodian supervisor oversees is different, her working conditions also vary. One day she may work in the comfort of modern, air-conditioned offices and the next be required to clean in a noisy plant environment full of fumes and bad odors. In all instances, the supervisor is required to carefully mix and use cleaning agents according to instructions to avoid exposing her crew, clients or herself to potentially toxic materials. Some custodian services require the supervisor and crew to wear company uniforms.
  
  

Educational Requirements

• To be hired as a custodian supervisor typically requires only a high school diploma or equivalent. Training in the safe use of cleaning compounds and cleaning equipment is helpful for those wishing to become a custodian supervisor. Professional background in customer service or janitorial service is preferred.
  
  

Salary and Advancement Opportunities

• Based on information provided by PayScale.com, the 2009 salary range in the United States for a custodian supervisor was between $27,277 and $44,495. The rate of pay is dependent on the experience of the supervisor, as well as the demographics of the area in which he works and the size of the company who employs him. Advancement to positions such as territory or district manager is often available at larger companies, while career growth opportunities at smaller firms may be limited.