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The differences between housekeepers and general cleaners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a housekeeper has an average salary of $29,306, which is higher than the $27,205 average annual salary of a general cleaner.
The top three skills for a housekeeper include customer service, cleanliness and patients. The most important skills for a general cleaner are cleanliness, break rooms, and light fixtures.
| Housekeeper | General Cleaner | |
| Yearly salary | $29,306 | $27,205 |
| Hourly rate | $14.09 | $13.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 111,501 | 96,320 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Housekeepers are responsible for taking care of their employers' houses. They are usually tasked to do work related to cleaning. Their primary responsibilities include sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping floors, managing recycling, taking out the trash, dusting surfaces, cleaning the bathroom, among others. They are also responsible for doing laundry, folding clothes, and storing clothes in cabinets. They may also be given additional responsibilities such as shopping for groceries, managing and stocking the pantry, cooking, walking pets and watering the plants. Housekeepers should be responsible, trustworthy, and knowledgeable on housework.
General cleaners are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of all the facilities of the company premises. A general cleaner also monitors the adequacy of cleaning materials in the storage area. They also respond to the visitors' inquiries and concerns, directing them to the appropriate personnel and department for their business needs. A general cleaner must be highly-organized, ensuring the safety of the establishment by following strict sanitary standards and cleaning procedures. They report defective items, inspect office equipment, and request additional supplies.
Housekeepers and general cleaners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Housekeeper | General Cleaner | |
| Average salary | $29,306 | $27,205 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $21,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dallas, TX | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | McMenamins Pubs & Breweries | Boston Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Construction |
There are a few differences between a housekeeper and a general cleaner in terms of educational background:
| Housekeeper | General Cleaner | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | General Studies |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between housekeepers' and general cleaners' demographics:
| Housekeeper | General Cleaner | |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 51.0% Female, 49.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 4.0% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |