Housekeeping Job Description, Duties, And Average Salary
Housekeeper Job Description
What are housekeeper jobs?
The question “what is housekeeping?” is an often asked question on cleaning jobshq, and the goal of this article is to give you a general idea of what this profession is, and how you could break into this specific cleaning industry.
The basic description of a housekeeper is an individual who is hired in order to provide professional, high quality domestic cleaning services, and depending on the client’s needs, other domestic services such as food preparation, laundry and errand running.
Types of Housekeeping Jobs Available
The most common form of housekeeping work is that of full time. These housekeepers are usually hired by wealthy individuals, and provide domestic services daily in exchange for a large pay check, and various other benefits.
While the majority of housekeepers may be full time workers, there are also part time positions which will have you doing the same domestic cleaning services and various tasks for your employer. Part time housekeepers typically find work in two ways.
The first is essentially freelancing, in which they become a housekeeper to any individual that needs cleaning jobs and other domestic services done. The second is far more common, and resembles the full time housekeeper.
An upper or middle class employer will hire the housekeeper for various house cleaning jobs to be performed on a regular basis.
Housekeeping services are seen as a luxury by many people, and for full time housekeeping, not many can afford it. This is typically due to room and board being provided to the housekeeper, as well as other incentives such as a weekly or monthly salary.
As a general rule, full time housekeepers typically focus solely on domestic cleaning tasks, and very rarely have other tasks outside of keeping their employers home clean and organized.
Although other services such as babysitting and cooking can be provided, these services are agreed upon during the initial interview for the position and should not automatically be assumed to be part of the work a housekeeper is expected to complete.
Unlike full time housekeepers, part time housekeepers are capable of providing domestic services for a large amount of people, with the only limiting factor being the amount of time you wish to work.
Typically a part time housekeeper cleans multiple households throughout the week.
While most part time workers are freelancers, there are also companies and agencies that offer part time housekeeping services which offer implied trust to clients that freelancers would have to otherwise gain on their own.
Housekeeping Duties and Scheduling
These households that employ part time cleaners will generally request services on a weekly, biweekly, or month basis.
Again, although special services can be offered, generally the only responsibility the housekeeper has is to ensure that the house is thoroughly cleaned, and well organized.
The main housekeeper duties that you can expect to do regularly include:
• Dusting
• Vacuuming
• Mopping
• Bathroom cleaning
• Kitchen cleaning
• Sweeping
Other duties not included in this list will be created by the housekeeper’s employer and agreed upon during the initial employment process, and every household has different needs that must be met.
In addition to the previously mentioned employers, certain facilities such as nursing homes, as well as hotels also typically hire housekeeping services.
These facilities rarely hire freelancers, and therefore company affiliated housekeepers are more likely to find work in these areas.
Housekeeper Salary (Average)
Full time private housekeepers- $500-$1000 (USD) per week
Part time housekeeper hourly rate- $10-$15 (USD)
Like with most cleaning jobs, the overall amount of money you can make with housekeeper jobs varies greatly depending on your location, domestic cleaning jobs you are expected to perform, and whether you are paid by the hour, weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
Full time housekeepers generally receive salaries, while part time housekeepers (including those affiliated with agencies) are paid hourly rates.
There are also increases in earnings offered to housekeepers who provide extra services outside of cleaning, such as nannies, cooks, and yard workers, as well as various bonuses offered to housekeepers that have demonstrated high quality work abilities.
(This is entirely dependent on the housekeeping employer, and should not be expected every time.)