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Create CVIf you're searching for cleaner salary US, you're likely asking a straightforward but important question: how much can I realistically earn as a cleaner, and how do I increase my income?
Cleaning roles are often underestimated, but compensation varies significantly depending on industry, employment type (employee vs contractor), location, and specialization (residential vs commercial vs industrial cleaning).
This guide breaks down everything you need to know:
Average cleaner salary in the USA
Salary by experience and role type
Hourly vs annual earnings
Self-employed vs employed income differences
Total compensation and tips
How to increase earnings strategically
Cleaning jobs are typically paid hourly, but annual salaries vary based on hours worked and job structure.
Entry-level cleaner: $12 – $16 per hour
Mid-level cleaner: $16 – $22 per hour
Experienced / specialized cleaner: $22 – $30+ per hour
Low end: $25,000 – $32,000
Average: $32,000 – $42,000 per year
High end: $45,000 – $65,000+
Experience increases earnings, but the biggest jumps come from moving into higher-paying environments or becoming self-employed.
Hourly: $12 – $16
Annual: $25,000 – $32,000
Typical roles:
Hotel housekeeping
Residential cleaning companies
Janitorial services
Recruiter Insight:
At this level, employers focus on reliability and work ethic, not specialized skills.
Where you work matters more than how long you've worked.
Salary: $30,000 – $50,000
Often includes tips
Flexible schedules
Higher earnings potential if self-employed
Salary: $28,000 – $42,000
Stable hours
Less tipping
Key Insight:
Unlike salaried roles, cleaner income depends heavily on hours worked, client volume, and whether you’re paid per job or per hour.
Hourly: $16 – $22
Annual: $32,000 – $45,000
Responsibilities:
Independent cleaning assignments
Handling larger properties
Training new staff
Hourly: $20 – $30+
Annual: $40,000 – $65,000+
Often includes:
Supervisory roles
Specialized cleaning services
Private high-paying clients
Salary: $25,000 – $38,000
High workload
Tips vary widely
Salary: $40,000 – $70,000+
Includes:
Hazardous cleaning
Post-construction cleanup
Medical facility sanitation
Why higher pay:
Risk
Certification requirements
Physical demands
This is one of the biggest income differentiators.
Hourly wage: Fixed
Benefits: Possible (healthcare, PTO)
Income stability: High
Hourly equivalent: $25 – $60+
Annual income: $40,000 – $100,000+
Why income is higher:
You control pricing
You keep full revenue (minus expenses)
You can scale with more clients
Reality Check:
Top earners in cleaning are almost always self-employed or business owners.
Most cleaner roles are simple in structure but still include multiple income streams.
Base pay (hourly or per job)
Tips (residential and hospitality)
Overtime pay
Bonuses (rare but possible in companies)
Residential cleaning:
Hotels:
Key Insight:
Tips can increase income by 10–30%, especially in residential cleaning.
Health insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plans (limited in smaller companies)
Recruiters and employers look at specific factors when setting pay.
High-paying states:
California
New York
Washington
Lower-paying states:
Midwest
Southern states
Basic cleaning = lower pay
Specialized cleaning = higher pay
Faster cleaners earn more, especially if paid per job.
High-income households pay more
Corporate contracts offer stable income
For higher-paying roles:
Hazardous material handling
Medical cleaning certifications
This is the biggest income jump.
Charge per job instead of hourly
Build repeat clients
Examples:
Deep cleaning
Move-out cleaning
Post-construction cleaning
The faster you complete jobs, the more you earn per hour.
Focus on:
Affluent neighborhoods
Short-term rental owners (Airbnb hosts)
Add-ons increase income:
Carpet cleaning
Window washing
Organization services
Weak Example:
“I charge $20 per hour.”
Good Example:
“I charge $150 per standard home cleaning based on property size.”
Why this matters:
Per-job pricing increases earning potential significantly.
Cleaning can be a starting point or a scalable business.
Cleaner → Senior Cleaner
Cleaner → Supervisor
Cleaner → Cleaning Business Owner
Starting: $25,000
Mid-career: $40,000
Business owner: $70,000 – $150,000+
Top earners build teams and scale operations.
Hourly work limits income potential.
Many cleaners charge too little, especially early on.
General cleaning pays less than specialized services.
Not all clients are equal in terms of pay.
The cleaner salary US market is simple on the surface but highly flexible in reality.
Entry-level roles offer stable but modest income
Experience increases pay slightly
Specialization increases pay significantly
Self-employment unlocks the highest earnings
If you approach cleaning as a service business rather than a job, your income potential increases dramatically.
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