A building porter helps to clean, maintain and repair buildings. Porters work in hotels, hospitals, general offices and apartment complexes. Some perform only maintenance inside buildings; others work on the grounds as well.

Basics

Building porters perform a wide variety of functions. They include mopping floors, changing light bulbs, mowing grass and assembling furniture. They must know which cleaning supplies, tools and equipment are needed for each job.

Skills

Building porters must work well with their hands and have the strength and coordination needed to handle general maintenance. They also should have basic problem-solving skills along with an ability to follow instructions and blueprints.

Qualifications

Most building porters can learn on the job with no more than a high school diploma. Those who specialize in certain areas (such as plumbing) may need a professional certificate.

Prospects and Earnings

Jobs for janitors and building cleaning workers such as porters are expected to grow by 6 percent through 2028, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS reported that these type of workers earned a median hourly wage of $13.98 in May 2020.

Janitors and Building Cleaners salary

• Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $46,870 ($22.53/hour)
• Median Annual Salary: $29,080 ($13.98/hour)
• Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $20,380 ($9.80/hour)