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Housekeeper: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,510median pay per year, or $17.07 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $27,640lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,35025th percentile
  3. $35,510median
  4. $39,59075th percentile
  5. $48,570top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A housekeeper, which BLS counts under Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners[1], earned a median of $35,510 a year in May 2025[2]. No formal education is typically needed to get started[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.6%[6]
Openings per year
175,500[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do housekeepers make?

The median pay for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners was $35,510 a year, or $17.07 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $37,080 a year or $17.83 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year, so housekeeper pay sat below it[5].

Here are the annual percentiles:

Percentile Annual pay Source
10th[4] $27,640
25th[4] $30,350
Median[2] $35,510
75th[4] $39,590
90th[4] $48,570

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27,640, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $48,570[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $13.29 and the 90th was $23.35[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest state median at $51,600[12]. Nevada followed at $46,550 and California at $42,660[12]. Mississippi had the lowest median among states with published data, at $25,360[12].

California had the most jobs at 103,430[13]. Florida (79,550), Texas (63,110), New York (41,740) and North Carolina (33,080) followed[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Urban Honolulu, HI had the highest median at $53,850[14]. Kahului-Wailuku, HI ($53,030) and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($48,200) came next[14]. The metro with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 40,030 jobs and a median of $44,010[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[12]$51,60011,120
Nevada$46,55024,380
California$42,660103,430
District of Columbia$42,2603,800
Washington$42,18018,480
New York$41,95041,740
Massachusetts$38,95014,910
New Jersey$37,98018,360
Vermont$37,6801,830
Maine$37,6304,960
Oregon$37,59012,920
Colorado$37,56019,280
Rhode Island$37,5402,710
Minnesota$37,47014,890
Alaska$37,3702,440
New Hampshire$36,9203,170
Illinois$36,38026,150
Utah$36,27010,250
Connecticut$36,1706,680
Montana$35,7405,380
Arizona$35,64021,180
Wisconsin$35,53014,520
Maryland$35,50014,690
North Dakota$35,0502,880
Michigan$34,65018,690
Idaho$34,5606,210
Nebraska$34,1706,250
Delaware$34,1501,820
Pennsylvania$33,87025,650
Florida$33,86079,550
Virginia$33,82023,120
Missouri$33,67015,360
Iowa$32,6208,160
Ohio$32,17028,930
Wyoming$31,8702,800
Indiana$31,42011,050
North Carolina$31,31033,080
Kansas$31,1007,540
Kentucky$30,88012,040
Tennessee$30,85020,500
New Mexico$30,4806,180
South Carolina$30,26014,500
South Dakota$29,9503,540
Georgia$29,77018,510
Texas$29,66063,110
Oklahoma$28,62011,810
West Virginia$28,0906,110
Arkansas$27,9606,930
Alabama$27,4808,290
Louisiana$26,60012,440
Mississippi$25,3608,320

How to become a housekeeper

BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education. It lists no work experience in a related job and short-term on-the-job training[3]. The path is short:

In an O*NET survey of 32 workers, 45% said less than a high school diploma was required, 36% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 7% said a post-secondary certificate and 6% said a bachelor's degree[16]. This is a small survey. The facts do not say how long the training lasts or whether any license is needed.

What housekeepers do

Housekeepers do light cleaning to keep homes and businesses such as hotels and hospitals clean and orderly[17]. Common tasks include:

On the job, people also work under titles such as Guest Room Attendant, Environmental Services Aide or Cleaner[1].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,332,100 to 1,339,500 jobs[6]. That compares with 3.5% growth for all occupations[19]. These counts include self-employed workers, and 13.7% of housekeepers were self-employed in 2025[20]. The OEWS count of 860,670 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[21].

Growth is slow, but BLS projects about 175,500 openings a year[7]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs. Each year 6.9% of workers leave the labor force and 6.2% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

Entry needs no formal credential and no related experience, and training is short[3]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, with a median of $35,510 against $50,980[2][5]. Job growth is slow at 0.6%, but a large number of openings come up each year[6][7]. The facts suggest it suits people who want to start working quickly and can work with a median below the all-occupations level.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a housekeeper make an hour?
The median hourly wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners was $17.07 in May 2025, and the average was $17.83[2][8].
What education do you need to be a housekeeper?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical, plus short-term on-the-job training[3].
Is housekeeping in demand?
BLS projects 0.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 175,500 openings a year[6][19][7].
What is the highest paying state for housekeepers?
Hawaii had the highest median at $51,600, then Nevada at $46,550 and California at $42,660[12].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 37-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Chambermaid, Cleaner, Cottage Attendant, Environmental Services Aide, Environmental Services Worker, Guest Room Attendant (GRA), Housekeeper, Housekeeping Laundry Worker. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in the US was $35,510 per year and $17.07 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: 10th percentile $27,640, 25th percentile $30,350, 75th percentile $39,590, 90th percentile $48,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners is projected to grow 0.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,332,100 to 1,339,500 jobs (a change of +7,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 175,500 openings for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 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
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners was $37,080 per year and $17.83 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: 10th percentile $13.29, 25th percentile $14.59, 75th percentile $19.03, 90th percentile $23.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. Median annual wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs: California 103,430; Florida 79,550; Texas 63,110; New York 41,740; North Carolina 33,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (areas with at least 100 jobs): Urban Honolulu, HI $53,850; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $53,030; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,200; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $48,140; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $46,590; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $44,900; Napa, CA $44,260; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $44,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 40,030 (median $44,010); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 34,440 (median $43,530); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 22,370 (median $34,360); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 20,800 (median $48,140); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 18,260 (median $37,310); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 17,810 (median $35,150). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 37-2012.00 survey of workers (32 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 45%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 36%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7%, Bachelor's Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners. O*NET OnLine
  19. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  20. BLS Employment Projections: 13.7% of Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 860,670 people were employed as Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: 6.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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.