Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners at $45,580, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 113.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Best States to Be a Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary goes furthest in Washington — a $45,520 BLS median worth $42,537 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 116.9).

Which US states are best for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners after cost of living and tax?

For a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $45,520 BLS median becomes $42,537 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 116.9). Utah ranks last ($31,088, index 85.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 51 states for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners. Index 100 = the average state; 116.9 means pay goes 16.9% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

116.9

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$45,520	—	107.0	$42,537	116.9
2	North Dakota	$37,750	—	89.0	$42,435	116.7
3	Massachusetts	$45,580	$2,059	105.8	$41,152	113.1
4	Vermont	$40,910	$952	98.0	$40,791	112.1
5	South Dakota	$35,480	—	88.6	$40,051	110.1
6	Alaska	$40,510	—	102.4	$39,576	108.8
7	Maine	$38,940	$1,090	97.0	$39,001	107.2
8	Nebraska	$35,900	$793	90.1	$38,964	107.1
9	Wyoming	$36,050	—	92.7	$38,893	106.9
10	Iowa	$35,380	$1,304	87.8	$38,827	106.7
11	Minnesota	$39,610	$1,319	98.6	$38,826	106.7
12	Missouri	$35,900	$806	90.8	$38,642	106.2
13	Ohio	$35,900	$205	92.8	$38,475	105.8
14	Nevada	$38,420	—	100.0	$38,428	105.6
15	Wisconsin	$37,000	$868	94.1	$38,399	105.6
16	New Mexico	$36,020	$629	92.2	$38,380	105.5
17	Montana	$37,110	$1,051	94.6	$38,099	104.7
18	Indiana	$36,460	$1,064	93.3	$37,926	104.3
19	New Hampshire	$39,150	—	104.2	$37,585	103.3
20	Kansas	$34,480	$1,129	90.1	$37,028	101.8
21	New York	$41,640	$1,685	107.9	$37,022	101.8
22	Idaho	$36,110	$936	95.5	$36,834	101.3
23	California	$41,090	$655	110.7	$36,520	100.4
24	Colorado	$38,600	$1,038	103.1	$36,449	100.2
25	Tennessee	$33,440	—	91.9	$36,399	100.1
26	Pennsylvania	$36,520	$1,121	97.6	$36,280	99.7
27	Michigan	$36,050	$1,286	96.2	$36,131	99.3
28	Illinois	$37,810	$1,731	100.0	$36,095	99.2
29	Connecticut	$37,960	$783	103.6	$35,881	98.6
30	Rhode Island	$37,310	$799	102.3	$35,697	98.1
31	North Carolina	$34,500	$924	94.3	$35,595	97.9
32	Arizona	$36,220	$431	100.7	$35,549	97.7
33	Oregon	$39,340	$2,638	103.4	$35,508	97.6
34	Kentucky	$32,320	$1,162	90.2	$34,559	95.0
35	Georgia	$34,310	$1,203	96.3	$34,382	94.5
36	Oklahoma	$31,110	$940	87.8	$34,345	94.4
37	Delaware	$35,320	$1,283	99.8	$34,102	93.8
38	New Jersey	$37,630	$600	108.8	$34,034	93.6
39	Texas	$33,010	—	97.1	$34,011	93.5
40	District of Columbia	$38,520	$1,211	109.9	$33,948	93.3
41	West Virginia	$30,980	$799	89.5	$33,723	92.7
42	Virginia	$35,170	$1,223	101.1	$33,577	92.3
43	Maryland	$36,620	$1,407	105.0	$33,550	92.2
44	Florida	$34,490	—	103.4	$33,351	91.7
45	Arkansas	$29,750	$952	86.9	$33,125	91.1
46	Alabama	$30,620	$1,266	88.8	$33,048	90.9
47	Hawaii	$37,710	$1,414	110.0	$33,011	90.8
48	South Carolina	$31,180	$379	93.7	$32,855	90.3
49	Louisiana	$28,930	$493	88.2	$32,239	88.6
50	Mississippi	$28,380	$444	87.0	$32,128	88.3
51	Utah	$32,200	$1,465	98.9	$31,088	85.5

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $45,520 salary is worth about $42,537 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $45,520 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $51,385, a $8,848 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$51,385	88.6
2	Arkansas	$50,318	86.9
3	Louisiana	$50,058	88.2
4	Mississippi	$50,047	87.0
5	Iowa	$49,897	87.8
6	North Dakota	$49,890	89.0
7	Tennessee	$49,548	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$49,358	87.8
9	Wyoming	$49,109	92.7
10	Alabama	$48,686	88.8
11	Kentucky	$48,469	90.2
12	West Virginia	$48,410	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners: a BLS median of $45,520 is worth $42,537 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 116.9 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Massachusetts has the highest headline BLS median for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners at $45,580, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 113.1). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary go least far?: Utah ranks last of 51 states for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners: a $32,200 BLS median is worth only $31,088 after tax and cost of living (index 85.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.