How Much Do House Cleaners Make? Solo Income and Pricing
Per-job pricing, jobs per day, supplies, travel, and what a solo cleaner realistically clears in a week
By the Monthly Income Booster editorial team · Updated · How we research and fact-check
On this topic
Cleaning is one of the fastest side hustles to start and one of the easiest to underprice. Income is jobs per day multiplied by price per job, minus travel and supplies — and travel is what quietly eats the day.
What BLS data shows (May 2025)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025 national estimates) puts the median wage for maids and housekeeping cleaners (SOC 37-2012) at $17.07 an hour, or $35,510 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $13.29 an hour and the top 10% more than $23.35. Maids and housekeeping cleaners includes hotel, hospital and cleaning-company staff. Independent cleaners who price their own jobs are self-employed and not in the survey.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest-paid 10% earn less) | $13.29 | $27,640 |
| Median | $17.07 | $35,510 |
| 90th (top 10% earn more) | $23.35 | $48,570 |
Worked example
The house cleaning pay calculator's starting inputs — illustrative job price and volume to replace with your own:
| Input or result | Value |
|---|---|
| Price per clean | $140.00 |
| Hours per clean | 3 |
| Supplies per clean | $12.00 |
| Travel per clean | $9.00 |
| Cleans per week | 8 |
| Tax set-aside | 20% |
| = Profit per clean | $119.00 |
| = Your real hourly rate | $39.67 |
| = Monthly take-home | $3,298 |
| = Yearly take-home | $39,573 |
Jobs Per Day Is the Real Constraint
Two thorough cleans plus travel fills a working day for most solo cleaners. Growing income means raising the price per job or tightening your service area, not adding a third rushed job.
Recurring Clients Beat One-Offs
A fortnightly client takes less time each visit than a first clean and needs no marketing. A book of recurring clients is what turns cleaning from gig work into a business.
Where Money Leaks
Long drives between jobs, supplies bought retail in small quantities, and deep cleans quoted at standard rates. Fixing those three raises take-home without a single extra job.
Insurance and Being Taken Seriously
Liability cover, a written service list, and clear cancellation terms let you charge more and protect you when something breaks. Clients paying higher rates expect all three.
Quote Properly
The cleaning quote tool prices from home size, your target hourly, travel, and supplies, so your number holds up when the job runs long.
You may also find this useful: How Much Do Window Cleaners Make?.
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do self-employed cleaners make per hour?+
Your take-home hourly is the job price minus supplies, spread across time on site plus travel. Enter real numbers in the quote tool to see yours.
How many houses can one cleaner do a day?+
Two standard homes plus travel is typical for solo cleaners; three is possible only with small homes close together.
Do I need insurance to clean houses?+
Liability cover is strongly advisable and often required by higher-paying clients and property managers. Requirements vary by location.
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