Street cleaner
Clean streets and remove litter and rubbish from public areas to keep towns and cities pleasant and safe places to live.
Also known as: street cleaning operative, highways cleaner
About the job
What it's like
You'll keep towns and cities pleasant and safe by making sure streets and other public areas are clean and free of litter and rubbish.
You’ll use cleaning vehicles and machines, such as pressure washers and road sweepers, and hand tools such as brushes and shovels.
You'll:
clean streets, footpaths, green spaces and public areas
clear drains and gullies so they don’t flood in bad weather
clean paved areas using a use a pressure washer
remove litter, graffiti and fly posters
remove chewing gum from pavements using a specialist machine
clean equipment at the end of each day
You'll usually work as part of a team responsible for a particular area of a town or city. You’ll need an understanding of health, safety and hygiene regulations.
Hours
You'll usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, starting at around 7am or earlier. You may work overtime after public events such as football matches or concerts.
Environment
You must be prepared to work outside in all kinds of weather, and be able to do a lot of walking and lifting. You'll be provided with protective clothing, such as waterproofs, overalls, gloves and high-visibility jackets.
Travel
You may need a driving licence to operate cleaning vehicles, such as road sweepers.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Related industries
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Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- machinery
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- respecting
- cooperating
- attention to detail
- concentrating
- managing resources
- time management
- reliable
- persevering
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
You don't need to study any specific subjects to do this job. It's more important that you have relevant skills and experience.
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this job but a good general education (SCQF Level 4/5) may be required by some employers.
Vacancies are advertised by local authorities, so entry requirements vary.
Work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Support Services (SVQ Level 2) can be of value when applying, or relevant qualifications may be achieved once in a job.
Many jobs require a driving licence.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Street cleaner'
