How Much Do Cleaning Jobs Pay?

by Forest Time

Cleaning jobs are typically basic, entry-level jobs that require little education. As such, they tend to pay relatively little. As of 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that cleaning and grounds maintenance jobs of all types offered an average wage of $12.51 an hour. Of course, the pay you can expect depends on the specific occupation, the type of employer and the state in which you plan to work.

Maids and Housekeepers

Maids and housekeepers clean and tidy indoor rooms, performing tasks such as making beds and dusting. As of 2013, the BLS reported that maids and housekeepers earned an average hourly wage of $10.64 and an average salary of $22,130 per year. Nearly half of all the housekeepers employed in the U.S. worked for hotels and motels, earning an average of $21,800 per year. Those employed by hospitals earned a bit more, averaging $24,880 per year. Outpatient centers paid housekeepers more than any other type of employer, an average of $36,820 per year.


Janitors perform more robust cleaning activities, such as deep-cleaning floors and walls. They may also perform basic mechanical repairs. As of 2013, janitors earned an average wage of $12.09 an hour and an average salary of $25,140 a year. Elementary and secondary schools, a significant employer of janitors, paid them an average of $29,010 a year. Janitors employed in colleges and universities averaged $28,040 a year, while those who worked for general hospitals averaged $26,060 a year.

Landscapers and Groundskeepers

Groundskeepers and landscapers make sure that the exteriors of buildings and the areas surrounding buildings are kept clean and well manicured. As of 2013, groundskeepers and landscapers earned an average hourly pay of $12.65 and an average annual salary of $26,300. Those who work for independent groundskeeping and landscaping companies made an average of $25,650 per year. Workers employed directly by elementary and secondary schools averaged $31,540 a year, while those employed directly by local governments averaged $30,410.

Geographical Pay Variations

According to the BLS, cleaning workers tend to make more in the Northeast and West and less in the South and South Central states. The highest-paying states for cleaning workers were Massachusetts, where they averaged $32,120 per year; New York, at $31,840; the District of Columbia, at $31,820; and Connecticut, at $30,660. The lowest-paying states in 2013 were Louisiana, at $21,800; Arkansas, at $21,620; and Mississippi, at $21,380.

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