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Cleaner, Rug Cleaner, Upholstery Cleaner
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Duties vary from one job to another. In general, carpet and upholstery cleaners:
Most carpet and upholstery cleaners start work early. They work until they have done all the jobs for the day. They may work evenings or weekends.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners work in many different places. Worksites include customers’ homes, commercial workspaces, and cleaning plants. There is often a limit to how far they will travel.
They may have to work for long periods on their hands and knees. Being physically fit and agile is important.
Safety is important in this job. Wet surfaces can cause slip-and-fall injuries. Repetitive tasks can lead to repetitive strain injuries. Working with solvents can also give rise safety concerns.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners
2023 OaSIS: 65311.01
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Carpet and upholstery cleaners need:
They should enjoy operating cleaning machines and having clear and organized methods for their work. They need to know which cleaning agents will remove which stains.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 107 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jan 07, 2025 and Oct 07, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Operate cleaning machines | 73 |
|---|---|
| Attention to detail | 69 |
| Tasks: Clean interior and exterior of motor vehicles | 63 |
| Tasks: Wash and clean interior and exterior windows and other glass surfaces | 62 |
| Construction Specialization: Reliability | 56 |
| Experience: Will train | 52 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 51 |
| Construction Specialization: Flexibility | 50 |
| Construction Specialization: Client focus | 49 |
| Tasks: Provide customer service | 47 |
Most carpet and upholstery cleaners train on the job. There are no standard education or certification requirements. However, they need a valid driver’s license.
Employers may prefer applicants with a high school diploma or related experience and training. Examples include safety training and fabric cleaning experience. Some employers require applicants to:
Some post-secondary schools and continuing education departments offer related courses. These may be advertised locally.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation. However, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification offers certification for carpet and upholstery cleaners who have taken approved training courses and passed the accompanying written exam with a minimum score of 75%.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Some carpet and upholstery cleaners choose self-employment. Others work for carpet cleaning companies or department stores. Applicants should research a company’s background before applying. Companies can have different business practices, training approaches, and pay structures. For example, some companies supply workers with van-mounted cleaning units. Others require workers to use portable machines and drive their own vehicles.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners can become supervisors or start their own companies.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Specialized cleaners
2016 NOC: 6732
75.8% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This occupation has a high turnover rate, so demand for new workers is steady. There may be many applicants for vacant positions.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners’ earnings vary. Some earn hourly wages plus commissions based on the amount of work. Others earn either additional or straight commission based on product sales. For those working on full commission, earnings can vary a lot from one worker to another and one month to another. Earnings depend on the number of jobs completed and the number of products sold.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $25.00 | $17.48 | $17.00 |
| Overall | $15.98 | $28.00 | $19.73 | $18.27 |
| Top | $18.00 | $33.00 | $23.97 | $22.02 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $37,306 |
|---|---|
| Construction | $45,867 |
| Manufacturing | $56,924 |
| Wholesale Trade | $35,175 |
| Retail Trade | $37,807 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $48,154 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $29,646 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $33,906 |
Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification website: www.iicrc.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2025. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
