All careers › First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
Housekeeping supervisor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $35,520lowest 10% earn less
- $40,10025th percentile
- $49,100median
- $62,60075th percentile
- $76,430top 10% earn more
Housekeeping supervisors, which BLS calls First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers, had a median pay of $49,100 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.2%[2]
- Openings per year
- 30,800[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do housekeeping supervisors make?
The median pay was $49,100 a year, or $23.61 an hour, in May 2025[1]. The median splits workers in two: half earned more, half less[1]. The average was $53,320 a year, or $25.64 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so this job's median sat a little below it[1][4].
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,520 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $76,430[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].
| Measure | Annual wage | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $35,520 | |
| 25th percentile[3] | $40,100 | |
| Median[1] | $49,100 | |
| 75th percentile[3] | $62,600 | |
| 90th percentile[3] | $76,430 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits[9]. That matters here, because 31% of these supervisors were self-employed in 2025[10].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest median at $63,550, followed by Rhode Island at $63,520 and California at $61,470[11]. Arkansas had the lowest median among the states and DC with published data, at $37,500[11].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median at $70,400[12]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara followed at $69,080, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $67,910[12].
California had the most jobs with 18,060, then Florida with 15,320 and Texas with 13,370[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs at 11,670, with a median of $59,990[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[11] | $63,550 | 2,910 |
| Rhode Island | $63,520 | 800 |
| California | $61,470 | 18,060 |
| New York | $60,580 | 11,620 |
| Massachusetts | $59,760 | 4,000 |
| Vermont | $59,340 | 420 |
| Hawaii | $59,060 | 1,500 |
| Connecticut | $57,200 | 2,110 |
| Alaska | $56,690 | 600 |
| Oregon | $56,210 | 2,470 |
| Maine | $55,810 | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $55,200 | 750 |
| New Jersey | $55,170 | 5,600 |
| Colorado | $55,100 | 4,070 |
| North Dakota | $54,210 | 490 |
| Minnesota | $53,510 | 2,270 |
| Utah | $52,420 | 2,240 |
| Delaware | $50,750 | 790 |
| Indiana | $50,570 | 2,840 |
| Nevada | $50,080 | 4,100 |
| Kansas | $49,780 | 1,570 |
| Maryland | $49,550 | 3,550 |
| Illinois | $49,410 | 5,090 |
| Wisconsin | $49,070 | 2,740 |
| Nebraska | $48,870 | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $48,660 | 5,900 |
| Arizona | $48,610 | 3,050 |
| Idaho | $48,390 | 1,220 |
| Montana | $48,240 | 760 |
| District of Columbia | $47,950 | 1,460 |
| Wyoming | $47,840 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $47,490 | 5,550 |
| Iowa | $47,200 | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,920 | 6,250 |
| South Dakota | $46,860 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $46,800 | 3,510 |
| Michigan | $46,770 | 3,870 |
| Ohio | $46,110 | 5,730 |
| Georgia | $46,070 | 5,810 |
| Kentucky | $45,860 | 2,920 |
| Florida | $45,770 | 15,320 |
| Missouri | $45,660 | 3,130 |
| South Carolina | $45,320 | 3,200 |
| New Mexico | $44,840 | 890 |
| Alabama | $44,370 | 2,550 |
| Mississippi | $42,230 | 1,550 |
| Texas | $41,660 | 13,370 |
| West Virginia | $41,450 | 740 |
| Oklahoma | $40,460 | 2,290 |
| Louisiana | $38,640 | 2,470 |
| Arkansas | $37,500 | 1,490 |
How to become a housekeeping supervisor
BLS lists these typical entry points[6]:
- First: a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Next: work experience in a related occupation, which BLS puts at less than 5 years[6].
- Then: no typical on-the-job training is listed.
In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 43% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[15]. Another 19% said some college courses, 14% said an associate's degree and 12% said a bachelor's degree[15]. The survey is small, so treat these as a rough picture.
O*NET groups the job in a zone where some roles need little experience and others need several months to a year[16].
What housekeeping supervisors do
O*NET describes the job as directly supervising and coordinating cleaning workers in places such as hotels, hospitals and offices[17]. Common tasks include:
- Overseeing in-house services such as laundry, repairs or valet[18].
- Choosing the right cleaning products for linens, furniture, floors and surfaces[18].
- Telling managers or desk staff when rooms are ready[18].
- Checking that finished work meets set standards[18].
- Planning and preparing staff schedules[18].
- Setting up standards and procedures for the department[18].
- Counting stock and handing out supplies and equipment[18].
- Pitching in with cleaning when needed[18].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 265,200 to 273,600 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projection is 3.5%[19]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of wage and salary jobs in May 2025 was about 178,760[20]. The two counts measure different things.
About 30,800 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.8% of workers leave the labor force and 6.4% move to a different occupation[21].
Is it a good fit?
The median pay is close to the all-occupations median, with a wide spread from the lowest to the highest paid[1][3][4]. Entry needs a high school diploma and less than 5 years of related experience[6]. Growth is close to the all-occupations rate, and the large number of yearly openings suggests steady hiring[2][19][5]. Pay differs by state, so local figures matter[11].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a housekeeping supervisor make an hour?
- The median was $23.61 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.64[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a housekeeping supervisor?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[6].
- Is housekeeping supervisor a growing job?
- BLS projects 3.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][19].
- Which state pays housekeeping supervisors the most?
- Washington had the highest median at $63,550, ahead of Rhode Island at $63,520[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers in the US was $49,100 per year and $23.61 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers is projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 265,200 to 273,600 jobs (a change of +8,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers: 10th percentile $35,520, 25th percentile $40,100, 75th percentile $62,600, 90th percentile $76,430. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 30,800 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers was $53,320 per year and $25.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 31% of First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $70,400; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,080; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $67,910; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $63,600; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $63,140; Modesto, CA $63,030; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $62,910; Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $62,710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers jobs: California 18,060; Florida 15,320; Texas 13,370; New York 11,620; Pennsylvania 6,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 11,670 (median $59,990); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 5,190 (median $61,270); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,140 (median $50,840); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 4,510 (median $45,440); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,910 (median $51,280); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,680 (median $38,500). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 37-1011.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 43%, Some College Courses 19%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14%, Bachelor's Degree 12%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 37-1011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 178,760 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers: 4.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.