How to hire a housekeeper/laundry assistant

How to hire a housekeeper/laundry assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step housekeeper/laundry assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a housekeeper/laundry assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The housekeeper/laundry assistant 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 housekeeper/laundry assistant 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 housekeeper/laundry assistant that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of housekeeper/laundry assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Housekeeper/Laundry Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Housekeeper/Laundry Assistant		$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
   Service Attendant	A service attendant is an employee who is employed to provide general maintenance services and maintain the cleanliness of the upkeep of the premises. Service attendants must support sales associates in a store as well as provide excellent quality services to guests and customers... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Laundry Services
   • Washing Machines
   • Dryers
   • Laundry Room
   • Compassion
   • Clean Linen
   • OSHA
   • Linen Closets
   • Dry Fold
   • Residents Rooms
   • Laundry Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Bed baths, ADL's, companionship.
   • Alter dishes to accommodate customer food allergies and dietary needs.
   • Assist kids in transfer going to and from school if need.
   • Assist kids in going to the soccer game practice and tournaments.
   • Care for individuals during periods of illness, provide personal care and companionship.
   • Help to maintain the cleanliness of common facility areas and perform assigned duties relate to the laundering of facility linens.

   More housekeeper/laundry assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your housekeeper/laundry assistant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A housekeeper/laundry assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a housekeeper/laundry assistant in Alabama may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level housekeeper/laundry assistant usually earns less than a senior-level housekeeper/laundry assistant. Additionally, a housekeeper/laundry assistant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average housekeeper/laundry assistant salary

   $14.05hourly

   $29,222 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level housekeeper/laundry assistant salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average housekeeper/laundry assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,075	$17
   2	Oregon	$33,458	$16
   3	Colorado	$30,397	$15
   4	Illinois	$28,731	$14
   5	Minnesota	$28,666	$14
   6	Indiana	$28,626	$14
   7	Ohio	$28,448	$14
   8	Florida	$27,238	$13
   9	Virginia	$25,675	$12
   10	South Carolina	$25,345	$12
   11	Kentucky	$25,234	$12
   12	Alabama	$23,793	$11
   13	Tennessee	$22,525	$11

   Average housekeeper/laundry assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ann Storck Center	$38,223	$18.38
   2	Rich Products	$37,380	$17.97
   3	Valley View Health Center	$35,382	$17.01
   4	North Shore Healthcare	$32,740	$15.74	2
   5	Arbor Court	$32,403	$15.58
   6	Life Care Solutions	$32,380	$15.57	72
   7	HealthTrust	$31,669	$15.23
   8	Avalon Health Care Group	$31,234	$15.02	12
   9	Life Care Centers of America	$31,217	$15.01	50
   10	Benedictine Health System	$30,958	$14.88	17
   11	Miller's Health Systems	$30,876	$14.84	5
   12	CEDCO INC.	$30,643	$14.73
   13	Magnolia Health Systems	$30,643	$14.73	9
   14	Sanford Health	$30,093	$14.47	59
   15	MANOR	$29,921	$14.39
   16	The Walt Disney Company	$29,863	$14.36	14
   17	Continuing Healthcare Solutions	$29,666	$14.26	2
   18	ACC Health	$29,609	$14.24
   19	Trilogy Health Services	$29,401	$14.14	63
   20	ProMedica Toledo Hospital	$29,295	$14.08

4. Writing a housekeeper/laundry assistant job description

   A good housekeeper/laundry assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a housekeeper/laundry assistant job description:

   Housekeeper/laundry assistant job description example

   QUALIFICATIONS:

   • Must be able to read Standard English.
   • Must be able to operate standard and commercial laundry machinery.
   • Must be able to understand and follow instructions.

   PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

   • Able to pull and push wet laundry (50 - 75 pounds) from washing machine.
   • Able to be on feet 7 - 8 hours per day.
   • Able to stoop, kneel, and bend.
   • Able to see, hear and communicate adequately to complete job duties and responsibilities.
   • Able to lift 30 - 40 pounds frequently.

   DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

   Are determined by the center and may include, but are not limited to the following:

   • Report to laundry at the assigned time and gather dirty laundry as instructed.
   • Load washers with dirty linens and prepare linen for morning change.
   • Keep dirty linen separate from clean linen at all times.
   • Check water temperature of each washing machine to be sure it is at least 150°.
   • Clean all lint traps in accordance with center policy or at least once per shift.
   • Check levels of laundry detergents, softeners and bleach according to center policy.
   • Keep floors, walls and equipment are kept clean.
   • Remove clean laundry from washer and load dryer, making sure that clean laundry does not touch the floor.
   • Operate washing machines and dryers are operated in accordance with manufacturer's and center's policy and procedures.
   • Removed dry clothes from dryer, fold and store in accordance with center policy.
   • Inform supervisor of any problems with equipment so that repairs can be made.
   • Shut down all equipment in laundry in accordance with center policy when fire alarm sounds.
   • Other duties which may be assigned from time to time.
   • Be familiar with and follow all federal, state and center policies and procedures.
   • Work safely, following proper procedures when using chemical agents.

   National HealthCare Corporation is recognized nationwide as an innovator in the delivery of quality care. Our goal is to provide a full range of extended care services, designed to maximize the well-being and independence of patients of all ages. We are dedicated to meeting patient needs through an interdisciplinary approach combining compassionate care with cost-effective health care services.

   The NHC environment is one of encouragement and challenge ... innovation and improvement ... teamwork and collaboration ... and honesty and integrity. All NHC employees are committed as partners, not only to the health of our patients, but to the well-being of the communities we serve.

   If you are interested in working for a leader in senior care and share NHC's values of honesty and integrity, please apply today and find out more about us at nhccare.com/careers

   We look forward to talking with you!!

   EOE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find housekeeper/laundry assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any housekeeper/laundry assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level housekeeper/laundry assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with housekeeper/laundry assistant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 housekeeper/laundry assistant

   Once you've found the housekeeper/laundry assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new housekeeper/laundry assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 housekeeper/laundry assistant?