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Window cleaner

Also called janitress, window washer, building maintenance and cleaning worker

Window cleaners use cleaning tools such as sponges and detergents to clean windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces of buildings, both on the interior and exterior. They use specific ladders to clean taller buildings, using safety belts for support.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects15 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Cleaners and helpersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €3,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Cleaners and helpersWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling5 in 10 have basic schooling only.Cleaners and helpersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Window cleaners · ILO

What you'd do

Window cleaners · ILO
  • Washing windows or other glass surfaces with water or various solutions, drying and polishing them
  • Using ladders, swinging scaffolds, bosun¬¥s chairs, hydraulic bucket trucks and other equipment to reach and clean windows in multistorey buildings
  • Selecting appropriate cleaning or polishing implement
Maintain inventory of cleaning suppliesHandle chemical cleaning agentsMaintain cleaning equipmentMaintain personal hygiene standards when cleaningFollow reporting procedures+ 9 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as cleaners and helpers in the EU
9.29m8.92m8.3m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,998,000 replacing leavers 640,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Cleaners and helpers15
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of window cleaners, 8 a surplus.
Window cleaners · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,800 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of cleaners and helpers (EU, 2025)
Degree 7%Vocational 32%General secondary 11%Basic schooling 49%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.11 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 3 tasks
Selecting appropriate cleaning or polishing implement0.15
Washing windows or other glass surfaces with water or various solutions, drying and polishing them0.10
Using ladders, swinging scaffolds, bosun´s chairs, hydraulic bucket trucks and other equipment to reach and clean windows in multistorey buildings0.09

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for window cleaners. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).