Careers · Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Maids and housekeeping cleaners perform light cleaning duties in private homes, hotels, hospitals, and other commercial establishments. The work includes making beds, changing linens, cleaning rooms and common areas, and vacuuming. The goal is to maintain these spaces in a clean and orderly condition.

$35,510median pay, U.S., per year

$30,350–$39,590middle half earn

861Kemployed in the U.S.

High school diplomatypical education · 11% hold a bachelor’s or higher

LowAI exposure · AI tools touch only a small share of this work.

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A day in the work

A typical week involves moving through assigned areas on a regular schedule. Cleaners make beds, replace towels and linens, dust surfaces, vacuum floors, and clean bathrooms. In hotels or hospitals, they may service multiple rooms per shift. Work often follows established routines and checklists to ensure consistency. The pace varies depending on the size and type of facility.

Who this work suits

Realistic

85Conventional

60Social

25Enterprising

8Artistic

6Investigative

Holland code RCS. Realistic work is hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.

You tend to do well in this work if you prefer structured tasks with clear expectations and measurable results. You are detail-oriented, reliable, and satisfied with work that follows established procedures rather than requiring creative problem-solving.

What it takes

Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most people in this occupation hold a high school diploma.

Skills that matter most

Service OrientationCoordinationTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and Management

Pay by state

State	25th pct	Median	75th pct	Employed
Hawaii	$45,860	$51,600	$60,430	11,120
Nevada	$35,030	$46,550	$50,140	24,380
California	$36,990	$42,660	$49,330	103,430
District of Columbia	$38,340	$42,260	$52,960	3,800
Washington	$37,690	$42,180	$45,730	18,480
New York	$35,820	$41,950	$57,980	41,740
Massachusetts	$36,700	$38,950	$45,120	14,910
New Jersey	$35,050	$37,980	$42,480	18,360
Vermont	$36,010	$37,680	$42,850	1,830
Maine	$36,330	$37,630	$41,490	4,960
Oregon	$35,780	$37,590	$42,880	12,920
Colorado	$35,710	$37,560	$42,860	19,280

All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico

Hawaii · $51,600 Nevada · $46,550 California · $42,660 District of Columbia · $42,260 Washington · $42,180 New York · $41,950 Massachusetts · $38,950 New Jersey · $37,980 Vermont · $37,680 Maine · $37,630 Oregon · $37,590 Colorado · $37,560 Rhode Island · $37,540 Minnesota · $37,470 Alaska · $37,370 New Hampshire · $36,920 Illinois · $36,380 Utah · $36,270 Connecticut · $36,170 Montana · $35,740 Arizona · $35,640 Wisconsin · $35,530 Maryland · $35,500 North Dakota · $35,050 Michigan · $34,650 Idaho · $34,560 Nebraska · $34,170 Delaware · $34,150 Pennsylvania · $33,870 Florida · $33,860 Virginia · $33,820 Missouri · $33,670 Iowa · $32,620 Ohio · $32,170 Wyoming · $31,870 Indiana · $31,420 North Carolina · $31,310 Kansas · $31,100 Kentucky · $30,880 Tennessee · $30,850 New Mexico · $30,480 South Carolina · $30,260 South Dakota · $29,950 Georgia · $29,770 Texas · $29,660 Oklahoma · $28,620 West Virginia · $28,090 Arkansas · $27,960 Alabama · $27,480 Louisiana · $26,600 Mississippi · $25,360

Certifications people in this field hold

House Cleaning Technician (HCT) — Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification

Training

Local training programs Certifications Licenses in your state Apprenticeships

Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.

Job titles in this occupation

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Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against maids and housekeeping cleaners and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.

Find out in 15 minutes See openings

O*NET-SOC 37-2012.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.