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What is a housekeeper and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A housekeeper is responsible for maintaining a clean and organized environment in private residences or commercial establishments. They perform a range of duties, such as cleaning rooms, doing laundry, ironing clothes, changing bed linens, stocking supplies, and organizing closets. Housekeepers may also be responsible for preparing meals, grocery shopping, and running errands. They often work independently or as part of a team; they must be detail-oriented, reliable, and able to follow instructions.

ScoreHousekeeperUS Average
Salary
2.3

Avg. Salary $29,306

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.9

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.46%

Asian 5.42%

Black or African American 9.66%

Hispanic or Latino 19.27%

Unknown 4.51%

White 59.67%

Gender

female 84.63%

male 15.37%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress level
4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.2

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a housekeeper?

Pros

  • Weekly paychecks

  • Flexible work schedules

  • Often receive tips from satisfied customers

  • Potential for advancement into supervisory roles

  • Gain valuable time management and organizational skills

Cons

  • Can be physically demanding and tiring work

  • Exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals

  • May be required to work weekends, holidays, and nights

  • Often work long hours with little break time

  • Limited opportunities for career growth or advancement in some companies

Housekeeper career paths

Key steps to become a housekeeper

  1. Explore housekeeper education requirements

    Most common housekeeper degrees

    High School Diploma

    53.4 %

    Diploma

    16.0 %

    Associate

    13.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific housekeeper skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service24.94%
    Cleanliness13.81%
    Patients8.77%
    Guest Rooms6.46%
    Good Judgment3.75%
  3. Complete relevant housekeeper training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New housekeepers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a housekeeper based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real housekeeper resumes.
  4. Gain additional housekeeper certifications

    Housekeeper certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific housekeeper certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for housekeepers include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Housekeeping Manager (CHM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research housekeeper duties and responsibilities

    • Train and manage several maids and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
    • Demonstrate compassion and customer service to patients.
    • Remove smudges from vertical surfaces such as doors, door frames, light switches, partitions.
    • Used rags, vacuum, dusters, sponges, and scrapers.
  6. Prepare your housekeeper resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your housekeeper resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a housekeeper resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable housekeeper resume templates

    Build a professional housekeeper resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your housekeeper resume.
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  7. Apply for housekeeper jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a housekeeper job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first housekeeper job

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Average housekeeper salary

The average housekeeper salary in the United States is $29,306 per year or $14 per hour. Housekeeper salaries range between $22,000 and $38,000 per year.

Average housekeeper salary
$29,306 Yearly
$14.09 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do housekeepers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Housekeeper reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

Taking pride in how the hotel looks guest rooms common areas

Cons

Finding a Good Housekeeping staff that doesn't want to cut corners or milk the clock


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Cons

Cleaning really sucks also not very good pay

Pros

You get a job which gets you money


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2023
Pros

The finishing product

Cons

Was not much that I didn’t like .Working on my own didn’t bother me,was always interested in cleaning


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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