Occupation · SOC 37-1011
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.
Median wage
$47,520
$34,390–$74,190
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
174,660
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
39 mapped
Core skills
Management of Personnel ResourcesTime ManagementSpeakingMonitoringCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationLearning StrategiesInstructingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionQuality Control AnalysisNegotiationJudgment and Decision MakingWritingPersuasionActive LearningManagement of Material ResourcesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingMathematicsEquipment MaintenanceOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionRepairingOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignScienceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeProduction and ProcessingEconomics and AccountingMathematicsPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyForeign LanguageChemistryLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingTelecommunicationsMedicine and DentistryCommunications and MediaFood ProductionBiologyTherapy and CounselingMechanicalBuilding and ConstructionDesignSociology and AnthropologyTransportationPhysicsFine ArtsPhilosophy and TheologyGeographyHistory and Archeology
Technology & tools
Computerized bed control system softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSEmail softwareFacebookFacility use softwareHelp desk softwareInventory tracking softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordOperating system softwareSAP softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesTraining and Teaching OthersGetting InformationCoaching and Developing OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDeveloping and Building TeamsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsWorking with ComputersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicStaffing Organizational UnitsHandling and Moving ObjectsProcessing InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming General Physical ActivitiesDocumenting/Recording InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesSelling or Influencing OthersThinking CreativelyControlling Machines and ProcessesAnalyzing Data or InformationRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Cleaning materials and product labels — identify and match to appropriate surface types under direct supervisor guidance in a hotel or commercial facility.Room readiness status — communicate to front desk or admitting personnel following a standard checklist in a hospitality setting.Basic cleaning duties — perform alongside experienced staff to meet daily service schedules in an assigned area of a building.Work inspection checklists — apply to completed rooms or spaces to identify obvious deficiencies under close supervision in a janitorial environment.Employee work schedules — assist in preparing draft shift rosters using a spreadsheet or office suite software under supervisor direction.Facility conditions — observe and record physical issues such as damaged fixtures or soiled surfaces using a standard inspection form.Safety and sanitation protocols — follow established procedures for handling cleaning chemicals and equipment in a commercial cleaning environment.Staff instructions — listen actively and relay task assignments clearly to individual team members at the start of a shift.Inventory tracking — count and log cleaning supplies using inventory management software under the guidance of a senior supervisor.In-house support services such as laundry or linen handling — assist in coordinating delivery and pickup schedules under direct oversight in a lodging facility.
developing
Cleaning materials selection — choose appropriate products for linens, flooring, and upholstered furniture with minimal oversight in a mid-sized commercial or hospitality facility.Completed work areas — inspect and evaluate against established quality standards, providing corrective feedback to housekeeping staff during routine operations.Room occupancy readiness — advise desk clerks and management personnel of available rooms in real time using facilities management software during a busy shift.Employee work schedules — plan and distribute weekly shift rosters that balance coverage needs and labor hours using spreadsheet software.Operational standards — implement department cleaning procedures and communicate updates to team members in a janitorial or housekeeping department.Minor maintenance and valet service coordination — supervise in-house support tasks and escalate unresolved issues to the appropriate department without prompting.Team performance issues — apply social perceptiveness to recognize early signs of conflict or low morale and address them through direct conversation.Facility physical condition — conduct routine walkthroughs to evaluate wear, damage, or cleanliness deficiencies and prioritize corrective work orders.Cleaning supply inventory — manage stock levels and initiate reorder requests using inventory management software to prevent service disruption.New staff orientation — instruct entry-level workers on cleaning techniques, safety practices, and departmental standards during on-the-job training sessions.
proficient
Departmental operational standards — establish, document, and enforce comprehensive cleaning and service procedures across all areas of a large facility without supervisory guidance.Complex cleaning and maintenance challenges — apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to diagnose root causes and implement effective solutions in non-routine situations.Full-range facility inspections — independently assess physical conditions across multiple zones, determine required work types, and prioritize resources accordingly.Multi-shift employee schedules — develop and adjust staffing plans that account for absenteeism, seasonal demand, and labor budgets using advanced spreadsheet and HRIS tools.In-house services including laundry, dry cleaning, and valet operations — oversee and coordinate all service lines to ensure consistent quality and timely delivery.Cross-departmental communication — negotiate service timelines and resource sharing with managers from maintenance, front office, and administration to resolve competing priorities.Staff performance evaluations — conduct formal appraisals, identify skill gaps, and design individualized learning strategies for housekeeping and janitorial team members.Cleaning materials procurement — assess product effectiveness and cost efficiency, then recommend supply changes to management based on quality control analysis.Guest and client complaints — resolve service failures promptly using active listening and service orientation principles to maintain satisfaction standards.Regulatory and safety compliance — interpret public safety and security requirements and ensure all departmental practices meet applicable standards in a commercial or institutional environment.
advanced
Departmental strategy and long-term standards — set the operational direction for the entire housekeeping and janitorial division, aligning goals with organizational objectives in a large-scale facility or multi-site operation.Personnel resource management — lead recruitment, retention, and succession planning for a sizable cleaning workforce, leveraging personnel and human resources knowledge to build a capable team.Organizational quality benchmarks — design and institutionalize quality control frameworks that define measurable performance expectations across all supervised departments.Budget and resource planning — oversee procurement decisions, supply chain software inputs, and labor cost forecasting to optimize departmental expenditures at an executive level.Leadership development programs — mentor developing and proficient supervisors by designing training curricula and coaching sessions rooted in adult learning strategies.Facility-wide condition assessments — lead comprehensive evaluations of physical plant needs across an entire property portfolio, presenting findings and capital improvement recommendations to senior leadership.Policy and compliance governance — author and implement public safety, sanitation, and environmental compliance policies that govern all cleaning and maintenance activities organization-wide.Technology adoption and integration — evaluate and champion new facilities management software, helpdesk platforms, and inventory systems to improve operational efficiency across the department.Cross-functional executive collaboration — represent the housekeeping and janitorial function in senior leadership meetings, negotiating resources and advocating for service quality with C-suite and property management stakeholders.Culture and values modeling — exemplify dependability, integrity, and cooperative leadership to establish a workplace culture that sustains high performance and low turnover across all shifts and service areas.
Also known as
40 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Building Cleaning SupervisorBuilding Services SupervisorBuilding SuperintendentBuilding SupervisorBuildings and Grounds SupervisorButlerCleaning Staff SupervisorCleaning SupervisorCustodial SupervisorCustodian SupervisorEnvironmental Services Custodial ManagerEnvironmental Services Department ManagerEnvironmental Services Supervisor (EVS)Executive HousekeeperHome Restoration Service SupervisorHotel Cleaning SupervisorHotel Housekeeping SupervisorHotel Room Service SupervisorHouse Cleaner SupervisorHouse SuperintendentHousekeeper SupervisorHousekeeping InspectorHousekeeping ManagerHousekeeping Operations Manager (Housekeeping Ops Manager)Housekeeping Room InspectorHousekeeping SupervisorJanitor SupervisorJanitorial ManagerJanitorial Services SupervisorJanitorial SupervisorLaundry SupervisorLinen Room SupervisorLinen SupervisorMaid SupervisorMaintenance SuperintendentMaintenance SupervisorMotel Cleaning SupervisorMotel Room Service SupervisorPrivate Residence Household ManagerSanitation Supervisor