The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data highlights a significant shift in the cleaning industry landscape. Between May 2020 and May 2025, median pay rose from $13.98 to $17.71 per hour. This upward trend varies by sector, with government roles currently paying a median of $20.76, while service-to-building roles remain closer to the national average at $17.21.

Despite these wage hikes, the industry is not experiencing rapid expansion. Total employment is expected to grow by only 2% through 2035. The high volume of annual openings—over 320,000—is almost entirely the result of workers retiring or transitioning to other sectors. For facility operators, this constant churn makes manual labor budgeting increasingly volatile.

Faced with rising costs and staffing instability, managers are shifting focus toward site-specific workloading. By utilizing industry benchmarks, such as those provided by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), facilities can convert square footage into estimated task times to determine if equipment investments, such as autonomous scrubbers or walk-behind units, are viable. However, industry experts caution that equipment purchases do not guarantee labor savings; actual ROI depends on whether the technology matches the facility's unique floor patterns, obstacles, and maintenance requirements.