SalaryByCity

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

$35,930

Median annual salary

2,199,900 employed nationally

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $66,390 more per year than Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners professionals — that's 184.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners earns $49,040 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,570 – $49,040
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$27,570$161,240

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileJanitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersMechanical EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$27,570$68,740$-41,170
25th Percentile$30,830$81,800$-50,970
Median (50th)$35,930$102,320$-66,390
75th Percentile$41,650$130,290$-88,640
90th Percentile$49,040$161,240$-112,200
Mean (Average)$37,460$110,080$-72,620

Employment Numbers

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

2,199,900

employed nationwide

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$44,820
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$43,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$42,920
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$40,350

Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$147,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$145,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$128,660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$126,870
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$124,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners or Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $66,390 (184.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salaries range from $27,570 (10th percentile) to $49,040 (90th percentile), with a median of $35,930.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 2,199,900 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners has a median salary of $35,930 while Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS