How to hire a professional cleaner

How to hire a professional cleaner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step professional 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 professional cleaner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new professional cleaner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your professional cleaner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a professional cleaner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A professional cleaner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, professional cleaners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of professional cleaners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Professional Cleaner	Description	Hourly rate
   Professional Cleaner	Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.	$9-16
   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
   Janitor	Janitors are primarily responsible for maintaining the sanitation and cleanliness of the workspace. They are in charge of sweeping and mopping floors, wiping surfaces, and ensuring that the area they are assigned to is properly sanitized... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Building Floors
   • Clean Bathrooms
   • Clean Windows
   • Office Buildings
   • Light Fixtures
   • Commercial Cleaning
   • Customers Homes
   • Mop Floors
   • Polish Furniture
   • Glass Partitions
   • Clients Homes
   • Commercial Buildings
   • WAX Floors
   • Window Sills

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise and train maids in their cleaning duties to ensure company standards of cleanliness are achieved.
   • Assist in cleaning restroom facilities including cleaning toilets, urinals, sinks, and mopping floors.
   • Execute commercial building following safety awareness to maintain cleanliness and neatness of working area and premises.
   • Sweep mop sanitize and disinfect surfaces dust buff floors clean restrooms basements clean out stoves and refrigerators etc

   More professional cleaner duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, professional cleaners' average salary in oklahoma is 46% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level professional cleaners 43% less than senior-level professional cleaners.
   • Certifications. A professional 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 professional cleaner's salary.

   Average professional cleaner salary

   $13.11hourly

   $27,268 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level professional cleaner salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 1, 2026

   Average professional cleaner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$35,777	$17
   2	Massachusetts	$35,663	$17
   3	California	$34,068	$16
   4	Pennsylvania	$30,543	$15
   5	Ohio	$29,077	$14
   6	Colorado	$28,479	$14
   7	Maryland	$27,896	$13
   8	Nevada	$27,457	$13
   9	Arizona	$26,927	$13
   10	Michigan	$26,607	$13
   11	Delaware	$26,473	$13
   12	Illinois	$26,462	$13
   13	Texas	$25,523	$12
   14	Florida	$25,078	$12
   15	Virginia	$24,805	$12
   16	Georgia	$23,734	$11
   17	Indiana	$23,701	$11
   18	Missouri	$23,042	$11
   19	South Carolina	$22,602	$11
   20	North Carolina	$21,224	$10

   Average professional cleaner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Vacation	$30,665	$14.74	4
   2	Well+Good	$29,505	$14.19
   3	Express Employment Indy South	$28,788	$13.84
   4	Window Genie	$27,941	$13.43	111
   5	Aire Serv	$27,489	$13.22	41
   6	ABM Industries	$27,244	$13.10	2,603
   7	OCF Realty	$27,200	$13.08
   8	McLemore Building Maintenance	$27,165	$13.06	38
   9	WFF Facility Services	$27,163	$13.06
   10	REVENUE.com	$27,146	$13.05
   11	Maid Right	$27,139	$13.05	33
   12	American Cleaning	$27,132	$13.04
   13	Spotless	$27,132	$13.04	7
   14	Select Homes Inc	$27,131	$13.04
   15	Scioto Services Llc	$27,131	$13.04	26
   16	MaidPro	$27,128	$13.04	101
   17	Flatirons	$27,026	$12.99
   18	Missouri State University	$25,807	$12.41	1
   19	Goodwill of North Georgia	$25,570	$12.29
   20	The Maids Home Cleaning in Orange County, CA	$24,908	$11.97

4. Writing a professional cleaner job description

   A professional cleaner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a professional cleaner job description:

   Professional cleaner job description example

   Job DescriptionCopy of 3pm-10;30pm Cleaning Professional- Ritenour School District! $15.00/hr
   
   

   General Cleaners are responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of all assigned areas. General Cleaners perform any combination of cleaning duties to maintain the daily upkeep and cleanliness of the facility Essential Functions Sweeping, dusting, dust mopping, damp mopping, vacuuming, extracting carpet, stripping and waxing floors, removing trash, recycling, cleaning and sanitizing restrooms and locker rooms, polishing outside area within 10 feet of entryways, washing windows, removal or snow and ice, cleaning of desks/walls/ furniture/ doors/ entry glass/ interior glass/countertops/chalkboards/ whiteboards/blinds and light fixtures, and any other duties as directed by custodial supervisor or his/her designated representative.

   Job Requirements: Excellent work history Team focused approach requiring the ability to work with others and take direction. Physically demanding fast-paced environment requiring the ability to work efficiently with attention to detail. Reliable transportation is required. Candidates are subject to Background Check & Drug Test

   Minimum Qualifications Education: High school degree preferred, but not required. Experience: Previous cleaning experience is a plus. Physical and Working Conditions The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to reach, bend, stoop, wipe, push and pull. The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects up to 25 pounds on a frequent basis, up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis. Extensive walking and standing for the duration of the shift. Must have sufficient mobility to perform assigned tasks with production and service time frames as established by the company. Ability to work with various temperatures extreme from hot to cold. HES Facilities Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   #ZR

   
   
   

   HES is a premier national provider of facilities management services focused 100% on educational institutions.

   Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, we pride ourselves on building best-in-class programs for custodial, maintenance, grounds, and landscaping services.

   With hundreds of years of combined facilities experience, our leadership team is comprised of results-oriented, hands-on executives and facilities experts who give your facilities our full attention.

   Whether for a grounds and landscaping program, custodial services, or maintenance solutions, HES will change the way you look at facilities management.

   Want to become part of a winning team with opportunities for growth, career advancement, and development? HES Facilities is proud to provide an environment where we support you and your drive for success. We have a passionate commitment to learning and investing in our associates looking to accelerate their careers. We offer a wide range of employment opportunities for professionals and entry-level candidates who share our core values.

   HES has openings for general custodians.

   These are Full-Time Shifts, Monday - Friday with weekends off

   Cleaning Professionals are needed at the Ritenour School District for 3pm-1030pm

   We also are currently hiring for Part-Time as well.

   
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find professional 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 professional cleaner job on Zippia to find and recruit professional 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 professional 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.

   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 professional cleaner

   Once you've found the professional cleaner 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new professional cleaner. 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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