Occupation · SOC 37-2012
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.
Median wage
$34,660
$26,800–$47,590
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
854,910
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
8 mapped
Core skills
Service OrientationCoordinationTime Management
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and Security
Technology & tools
Instant messaging softwareMaterials requirements planning logistics and supply chain softwareFacilities management softwareDesktop communications softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Keep storage areas and carts well-stocked, clean, and tidy.Carry linens, towels, toilet items, and cleaning supplies, using wheeled carts.Clean rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met.Empty wastebaskets, empty and clean ashtrays, and transport other trash and waste to disposal areas.Sweep, scrub, wax, or polish floors, using brooms, mops, or powered scrubbing and waxing machines.Replenish supplies, such as drinking glasses, linens, writing supplies, and bathroom items.Clean rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies, using vacuum cleaners and shampooers.Wash windows, walls, ceilings, and woodwork, waxing and polishing as necessary.Dust and polish furniture and equipment.Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operated sterilizers.Observe precautions required to protect hotel and guest property and report damage, theft, and found articles to supervisors.Sort, count, and mark clean linens and store them in linen closets.Sort clothing and other articles, load washing machines, and iron and fold dried items.Move and arrange furniture and turn mattresses.Replace light bulbs.Deliver television sets, ironing boards, baby cribs, and rollaway beds to guests' rooms.Hang draperies and dust window blinds.Request repair services and wait for repair workers to arrive.Prepare rooms for meetings and arrange decorations, media equipment, and furniture for social or business functions.Polish silver accessories and metalwork, such as fixtures and fittings.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Cleaning supplies and equipment — identify and retrieve under direct supervision from a stocked storage cart in a hotel or facility setting.Wastebaskets and trash receptacles — empty and transport to designated disposal areas following established protocols on an assigned floor.Wheeled housekeeping carts — load with linens, towels, and toilet items under supervisor guidance before beginning a shift.Brooms and mops — sweep and mop hard floors following step-by-step instructions in guest rooms and corridors.Vacuum cleaners — operate on rugs and carpeted surfaces under direction to remove visible debris in standard guest rooms.Supply replenishment tasks — restock drinking glasses, writing supplies, and bathroom amenities in guest rooms as directed by a room checklist.Health and sanitation standards — recognize and follow basic cleanliness protocols when cleaning restrooms and common areas.Windows and walls — wipe down surfaces using provided cleaning solutions under close supervision in assigned work areas.Oral instructions from supervisors — listen and respond appropriately to task assignments communicated verbally at the start of a shift.Storage areas and carts — keep tidy and organized with guidance, reporting low stock levels to a supervisor in a commercial facility.
developing
Assigned guest rooms and common areas — clean to established health standards routinely and with minimal oversight in a hotel or residential facility.Housekeeping carts — stock, organize, and transport independently at the start of each shift, anticipating supply needs for an assigned section.Floor care equipment including powered scrubbing and waxing machines — operate safely and effectively on a variety of hard floor surfaces in corridors and lobbies.Rugs and upholstered furniture — vacuum and shampoo on a scheduled rotation using standard equipment in multi-room facility environments.Trash, waste, and ashtray contents — collect, remove, and dispose of efficiently across an entire assigned floor within shift time constraints.Bathroom and guestroom supplies — replenish linens, toiletries, and amenities accurately against room status lists with reduced supervisor check-ins.Windows, ceilings, walls, and woodwork — wash, wax, and polish on routine cycles using appropriate techniques and cleaning agents.Time management during shift — sequence room-cleaning tasks to complete all assigned spaces within scheduled hours in a busy lodging environment.Inventory tracking tools and basic software — log supply usage and flag reorder needs using facility management or inventory software.Guest interactions — respond courteously and helpfully to basic service requests encountered while working in occupied or semi-occupied spaces.
proficient
Full housekeeping scope across rooms, hallways, restrooms, elevators, and stairways — complete autonomously to meet or exceed facility health and brand standards.Non-routine cleaning situations such as spills, biohazards, or deep-clean requests — assess and address independently using proper materials and procedures.Cleaning supply inventory — monitor, reconcile, and reorder using inventory management or materials logistics software to prevent service disruption.Powered floor-care machinery — select appropriate equipment and settings for each floor type and condition, achieving consistent quality results without supervision.Upholstered furniture, draperies, and specialty surfaces — apply targeted cleaning methods to restore condition and appearance in high-traffic facility areas.Storage room organization systems — design and maintain efficient layouts that support fast cart loading and accurate par-level management.Shift scheduling and workload coordination — self-manage task sequencing across a large room count, adapting to late check-outs or priority assignments.Public safety and security protocols — recognize and respond appropriately to security concerns, lost items, or safety hazards encountered during cleaning rounds.Peer support and informal coaching — demonstrate correct techniques and standards to newer colleagues during shared shifts in hotel or commercial settings.Quality self-inspection — audit completed rooms and spaces against a detailed checklist, identifying and correcting deficiencies before supervisor review.
advanced
Departmental cleaning standards and SOPs — develop, document, and implement facility-wide housekeeping protocols that meet regulatory and brand requirements.Housekeeping team performance — lead, schedule, and coach a team of cleaners, setting daily priorities and ensuring consistent service delivery across all shifts.Supply chain and inventory strategy — oversee procurement, vendor relationships, and stock-level planning using integrated facilities management and logistics software.New employee onboarding — design and deliver structured on-the-job training programs that build competency in cleaning techniques, safety, and guest service.Quality assurance program — establish inspection cycles, scoring criteria, and corrective-action processes that drive continuous improvement across the housekeeping operation.Health and sanitation compliance — ensure the entire facility meets applicable public health, OSHA, and brand-specific standards through systematic auditing and staff direction.Cross-departmental coordination — collaborate with front office, maintenance, and management teams to align housekeeping workflows with occupancy forecasts and special events.Budget and resource management — plan labor hours, equipment maintenance schedules, and supply expenditures to achieve departmental cost targets in a large facility.Technology adoption — evaluate and implement housekeeping task management, communication, and inventory software to improve operational efficiency at the organizational level.Guest satisfaction outcomes — analyze service feedback, identify root causes of cleanliness complaints, and lead initiatives that measurably improve guest experience scores.
Also known as
79 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Drapery WorkerMaidRest Room MaidHotel MaidShower MaidCleaner, HousekeepingIndustrial HousekeeperCleaning MatronCabin CleanerRoom CleanerHousepersonChambermaidHospital CleanerMotel MaidEnvironmental Services WorkerDomestic HelperUpstairs MaidHousekeeping Room AttendantLodging House KeeperHouse AttendantCommercial HousekeeperDomestic MaidService CleanerResidential HousekeeperLinen Room CustodianLinen KeeperHousehold WorkerHouse CleanerGuest Room Attendant (GRA)Curtain WorkerBunk House WorkerDormitory MaidLounge MaidHouse WorkerBed MakerLinen WorkerLaundry Operator (Navy 001732)Housekeeping AttendantCaretakerButler