Janitorial Wage Benchmarks

Janitorial Wages in Nevada (2026)

Nevada's $17.54/hr janitorial mean — driven by Las Vegas casino and hospitality complex contracts — is 46% above the $12.00/hr state minimum wage floor, the widest floor-to-mean gap in this batch, with union density at 12.1% adding upward wage pressure in gaming markets.

CurrentStatute: BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) + NRS §608.250 (state minimum wage; unified rate since July 2024)Effective: $12.00/hr effective July 1, 2024 (no increase scheduled for 2026; two-tier system eliminated by AB 456 and 2022 ballot measure)Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Nevada
Governing Statute
BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) + NRS §608.250 (state minimum wage; unified rate since July 2024)
BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011 (O*NET LocalWages_37-2011.00_NV, BLS 2024 data); Nevada Labor Commissioner — 2024 Minimum Wage Bulletin (July 1, 2024); Ogletree — Nevada Two-Tiered Minimum Wage Retiring (July 1, 2024); Oregon DCBS Premium Rate Ranking 2024 (class 9014 rate comparison)
Enforcement Agency
Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner; DOL Wage & Hour Division, Las Vegas District Office
Civil Penalty
Back wages + equal amount as liquidated damages; $5,000 civil penalty per violation; criminal penalties for willful violations under NRS §608.195

Nevada's janitorial workforce earns a statewide mean and median hourly wage of $17.54 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011) — placing it above the national median and reflecting the concentrated demand for facility cleaning in Las Vegas's massive gaming and hospitality complex. The state minimum wage is $12.00/hr (effective July 1, 2024; no 2026 increase currently legislated), following the elimination of the previous two-tier health-benefits-linked system. The $5.54/hr gap between the state minimum and the median market wage is wide, confirming that Nevada's janitorial wages are driven by market demand rather than the legal floor.

What employers should plan for

  • Floor: $12.00/hr effective July 1, 2024 (NRS §608.250). The two-tier system (which previously allowed a lower rate for employers offering health benefits) was eliminated by the 2022 ballot measure and AB 456. No additional increase has been legislated as of Q2 2026; the rate has been at $12.00/hr since July 2024.
  • Local floors: No Nevada city has enacted a higher local minimum wage. Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas track the state rate. Note daily overtime requirements: employees earning less than $18.00/hr (1.5× minimum wage) are entitled to daily overtime after 8 hours.
  • Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in Nevada run approximately $27–$34/hr total loaded cost (base wage + payroll taxes + WC ~$1.59/$100 — one of the lower WC rates in this batch + benefits + overhead). Las Vegas Strip properties with union-adjacent labor practices add $2–$4/hr.
  • Workers' comp class 9014 base rate approximately $1.59/$100 payroll (Nevada NCCI jurisdiction; among the lowest in this batch per Oregon DCBS 2024 ranking).

High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas MSA dominates Nevada's cleaning labor market with a median $17.88/hr (10th: $12.94, 25th: $14.29, 75th: $22.63, 90th: $22.78) — the 75th-to-90th compression at $0.15/hr reflects a ceiling driven by the gaming sector's standardized wage structures. Reno MSA comes in at median $16.95/hr (10th: $13.01, 75th: $18.17, 90th: $22.24), reflecting Reno's growing logistics/warehousing economy. Carson City MSA posts median $16.49/hr (10th: $13.44, 75th: $18.64, 90th: $21.68) — the state capital with smaller commercial footprint. Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan runs median $16.99/hr, slightly ahead of Carson City.

Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)

  • 10th percentile: $12.94/hr
  • 25th percentile: $14.29/hr
  • Median (50th): $17.54/hr
  • 75th percentile: $22.41/hr
  • 90th percentile: $22.78/hr

Nevada shows a striking bimodal-adjacent distribution: a $4.60/hr jump from 25th to median, followed by an unusually compressed 75th-to-90th band of only $0.37/hr. This reflects Las Vegas's two-tier cleaning market — a large volume of workers at $14–$18/hr in standard commercial buildings, and a wage ceiling around $22–$23/hr for experienced union-adjacent gaming property cleaners. The $9.84/hr overall spread (10th to 90th) is moderate.

Union presence

Nevada's union density (12.1% statewide, BLS 2024) is driven primarily by gaming sector unions, with Culinary Workers Union UNITE HERE Local 226 being the dominant force covering hotel and casino housekeeping in Las Vegas. SEIU 32BJ does not operate in Nevada's commercial cleaning sector. Commercial office cleaning outside of gaming properties (corporate offices, medical facilities, schools) is largely non-union. Employers bidding on contracts at casino resorts or gaming-adjacent facilities should verify collective bargaining coverage before finalizing wage assumptions.

What this means for bid math

Nevada's relatively low workers' comp rate (~$1.59/$100) partially offsets higher base wages compared to interior states. Total loaded labor runs approximately $27–$32/hr (1.55–1.85× base) for standard commercial contracts. The $17.54/hr mean wage with no scheduled minimum wage increase through 2026 provides cost stability. Las Vegas gaming-adjacent contracts require separate pricing given the Culinary Workers CBA influence — budget $19–$23/hr base for UNITE HERE-covered facilities. The daily overtime requirement below $18.00/hr means all workers earning $12–$17.99/hr are subject to daily OT after 8 hours, adding cost for extended-shift cleaning contracts.

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This page is informational only. It does not constitute legal advice, tax advice, or a professional compliance determination. Laws vary by state and locality, change over time, and apply differently depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Before taking any action with legal or business consequences, consult a licensed attorney or CPA qualified in your jurisdiction.