How to hire a cleaner

How to hire a cleaner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cleaner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cleaner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cleaner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cleaner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The cleaner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a cleaner to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a cleaner that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of cleaners.

   Type of Cleaner	Description	Hourly rate
   Cleaner	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$10-17
   Maid	Maids are individuals who perform domestic chores like ironing, grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry. Primarily, maids oversee the maintenance of wardrobes, serve meals, and lay out clothes... Show more	$9-16
   Custodian/Substitute Custodian	A custodian is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of a particular area, including preparing and setting-up equipment for public or private use. Although their duties depend on their area of assignment or industry of employment, those duties often include conducting routine maintenance checks on facilities, performing basic repairs, cleaning floors and windows, replacing fixtures, monitoring supply inventories, and ordering new supplies as necessary.	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Commercial Cleaning
   • Building Floors
   • Ventilation
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • Work Ethic
   • Window Sills
   • Safety Procedures
   • Scrubbers
   • Public Restrooms
   • Light Fixtures
   • Bathroom Fixtures
   • Urinals
   • Trash Receptacles

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate a forklift for logistic, to manage and relocate BMW's fixture material.
   • Remove snow from sidewalks, using snow blowers, and/or snow shovels, and spread snow melting chemicals.
   • Use of various equipment used for methods of cleaning areas in the school such sweepers and snow blowers.
   • Maintain church building and grounds by handling general maintenance including electrical and plumbing and providing custodial services
   • Complete weekly order for PPE.
   • Clean Toyota after trucks build.

   More cleaner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cleaner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A cleaner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, cleaners' average salary in south carolina is 45% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cleaners 42% less than senior-level cleaners.
   • Certifications. A cleaner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a cleaner's salary.

   Average cleaner salary

   $13.50hourly

   $28,075 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cleaner salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 15, 2026

   Average cleaner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$37,435	$18
   2	California	$35,737	$17
   3	Massachusetts	$34,175	$16
   4	Oregon	$33,590	$16
   5	Minnesota	$32,214	$15
   6	New York	$31,736	$15
   7	Maine	$31,556	$15
   8	District of Columbia	$31,326	$15
   9	Illinois	$29,855	$14
   10	Nevada	$29,602	$14
   11	Colorado	$29,377	$14
   12	Arizona	$28,778	$14
   13	Wisconsin	$27,944	$13
   14	Pennsylvania	$27,919	$13
   15	Nebraska	$27,127	$13
   16	Iowa	$27,065	$13
   17	Utah	$26,889	$13
   18	Michigan	$26,525	$13
   19	Maryland	$26,335	$13
   20	Kansas	$26,332	$13

   Average cleaner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Columbia University in the City of New York	$43,837	$21.08	11
   2	Earthjustice	$39,952	$19.21
   3	Uline	$39,553	$19.02	16
   4	Grosvenor Services	$38,931	$18.72	6
   5	Fedcap Rehab	$38,772	$18.64
   6	Valley View School District	$38,576	$18.55
   7	The Phelps School	$38,321	$18.42
   8	Preferred	$38,097	$18.32	6
   9	Bertucci's	$37,735	$18.14	3
   10	The RealReal	$37,301	$17.93
   11	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$37,265	$17.92	2
   12	XPO Logistics	$37,210	$17.89
   13	Vista Outdoor	$37,204	$17.89
   14	Church & Dwight Co.	$37,203	$17.89	2
   15	Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES	$36,960	$17.77
   16	University of Washington	$36,860	$17.72	6
   17	National Park Foundation	$36,788	$17.69
   18	SUNY Erie	$36,723	$17.66
   19	Edmonds Community College, Lynnwood	$36,633	$17.61	2
   20	Achievement Centers for Children	$36,547	$17.57

4. Writing a cleaner job description

   A job description for a cleaner role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a cleaner job description:

   Cleaner job description example

   • To perform the necessary functions and tasks of the job you are required to: Stand 33%, Walk >66%, Sit <10%

   • Use of hands to finger, handle, rub, grip, and feel <66%

   • Reach above shoulders <33%

   • Push/pull and grasp with hands and arms 33-50%

   • Climb or balance <33% Stoop, Kneel, Crouch, or Crawl <33%

   • Perform repetitive tasks

   • Must be able to stand for extended periods of time

   • Frequently lift 0-10 pounds

   • Must be able to work under pressure and time deadlines during peak periods

   As a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.

   Company DescriptionAt ISS/Guckenheimer, we ensure our employees have a safe work environment and are engaged as well as motivated to provide the best possible service to our customers.
   
   We believe that great service is not simply a task or delivery. We are focused on how we can meet our customer's needs, the outcome of our services, and how we can help them achieve their business goals. We empower our people and spark the power of the human touch in our service performance. With a deep sense of purpose, we help our customers reach their goals as an extension of their organization. This is our way of providing essential value: more ease, higher effectiveness, and better experiences to people and businesses, every day.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cleaners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cleaner job on Zippia to find and recruit cleaner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit cleaners, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cleaner

   Once you've decided on a perfect cleaner candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cleaner?