Wyoming's janitorial workforce earns a statewide mean and median hourly wage of $17.11 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 37-2011) — a figure that may surprise given the state's $5.15/hr nominal minimum wage (preempted by the $7.25/hr federal floor for commercial cleaning contractors). Wyoming's elevated janitorial wages reflect a tight labor market driven by the state's energy-sector wage norms, low population density creating persistent labor scarcity, and the premium that commercial employers must pay to attract and retain cleaners in a state where alternative employment (construction, mining, oil field services) regularly pays $20–$35/hr.
What employers should plan for
- Floor: $7.25/hr federal (Wyo. Stat. §27-4-202 sets Wyoming's state minimum at $5.15/hr — one of the only state minimums below the federal floor — but FLSA preempts this for all FLSA-covered employers, i.e., virtually all commercial cleaning contractors). Wyoming's nominal state minimum is legally irrelevant for commercial cleaning operations.
- Local floors: No Wyoming city or county has enacted a local minimum wage ordinance above the federal rate. Cheyenne, Casper, and Jackson have no municipal minimum wage requirements for private employers.
- Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in Wyoming run approximately $26–$33/hr total loaded cost. The energy sector's wage premium and thin labor supply in many Wyoming markets create upward pressure on cleaning wages well above what the $7.25/hr floor would suggest. Jackson Hole area bids require premium budgeting given the extreme competition for labor from tourism and hospitality employers.
- Workers' comp class 9014 — Wyoming is one of four monopoly state fund workers' compensation states (along with North Dakota, Ohio, and Washington). Wyoming's State Fund (Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Workers' Compensation Division) sets all rates. Estimated effective rate for commercial janitorial operations approximately $2.50–$3.50/$100 payroll — Wyoming's energy-adjacent labor market drives above-average WC costs even for lower-risk occupations.
High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros
Cheyenne WY MSA (state capital, FE Warren Air Force Base, Union Pacific Railroad) leads the state with estimated janitor wages of $17.50–$18.00/hr — consistent with Indeed market salary data showing a $17.69/hr mean for Cheyenne janitor positions as of late 2025. The government and federal installation economy creates stable institutional cleaning demand. Casper WY MSA (Natrona County; oil and gas services, Wyoming Medical Center) is estimated at $16.00–$17.00/hr, anchored by the energy sector's general wage premium that spills over into all service occupations. Wyoming's nonmetropolitan areas — which comprise the majority of the state's land area and a significant share of its workforce — present the widest wage variation: rural ranch and small-town commercial markets may offer $14.00–$16.00/hr, while energy boomtown markets (Pinedale, Rock Springs during energy cycles) can spike significantly higher. The Jackson Hole area (Teton County) has a structurally unique labor market — seasonal tourism wages push all service occupations higher, but the year-round commercial cleaning market is thin and often served by contractors commuting from Idaho.
Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)
- 10th percentile: $12.55/hr
- 25th percentile: $14.80/hr
- Median (50th): $17.11/hr
- 75th percentile: $20.23/hr
- 90th percentile: $22.11/hr
Wyoming's distribution spans a significant $9.56/hr from 10th to 90th, reflecting the state's unusually diverse wage environment — from entry-level small-town commercial cleaning at $12.55/hr to energy-sector-adjacent institutional cleaning at $22.11/hr. The 10th percentile at $12.55/hr is $5.30/hr above the legally operative federal minimum, confirming that the $7.25 floor is entirely non-binding in this market. The relatively high 75th percentile ($20.23/hr) compared to other low-minimum-wage states reflects Wyoming's energy economy wage premium.
Union presence
Wyoming is a right-to-work state with private-sector union density approximately 6–7%, primarily in energy (IBEW lineman, Operating Engineers on heavy construction), utilities, and transportation. SEIU 32BJ has no commercial cleaning presence in Wyoming. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has some presence in trucking. Private commercial cleaning is entirely non-union statewide — no pattern bargaining, no union wage floors, no SEIU organizing activity in this market.
What this means for bid math
Wyoming's $17.11/hr median, combined with the state monopoly workers' comp fund and above-average WC rates, produces total loaded labor costs of approximately $26–$32/hr (1.55–1.90× base) for standard commercial contracts. The energy industry's wage premium effect — which pulls all Wyoming service-sector wages up relative to minimum-wage-equivalent states — means that pricing Wyoming cleaning contracts on national-average assumptions will underprice the competitive market. Cheyenne and Casper institutional bids should use $17.50–$18.50/hr as the competitive base wage. Jackson Hole area contracts require a full custom wage analysis given the extreme tourism-season labor competition. The state monopoly WC fund (no carrier shopping) means workers' comp premiums are fixed by state schedule — budget approximately $2.50–$3.50/$100 payroll with no carrier pricing alternatives.
Primary sources
- O*NET Local Wages — Wyoming (BLS 2024 data)
- DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws
- LaborLawCenter — 2026 State Minimum Wage Rates
- Indeed — Janitor Salary Cheyenne WY (market cross-check, Nov 2025)
- Wyoming DWS — Workers' Compensation (State Fund)
- Commercial Cleaning Licensing in Wyoming →
- OSHA Compliance for Janitorial in Wyoming →
- Workers' Comp Class 9014 in Wyoming →