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House Cleaner

House cleaners provide cleaning services in private homes.

Also Known As

Home Cleaner, Home Service Professional, Housekeeper, Light Duty Cleaner, Residential Maid

NOC Codes

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

  • 6661: Light Duty Cleaners

2006 NOC-S

  • G931: Light Duty Cleaners

2011 NOC

  • 6731: Light duty cleaners

2016 NOC

  • 6731: Light duty cleaners

2021 NOC

  • 65310: Light duty cleaners

2023 OaSIS

  • 65310.01: Light duty cleaners
Duties
Updated Apr 11, 2022

Duties vary depending on what the customer needs and wants. In general, house cleaners do routine cleaning tasks each time they visit. They may perform other cleaning tasks as needed, such as when people move.

Routinely, house cleaners:

  • Vacuum and wash floors and stairways
  • Dust furniture and household objects, such as picture frames, windowsills, door frames, light fixtures, and baseboards
  • Clean kitchen surfaces, such as cupboards, appliances, counters, and sinks
  • Clean bathroom surfaces, such as bathtubs, showers, toilets, and mirrors
  • Empty wastebaskets and replace garbage bags
  • Maintain cleaning supplies and equipment provided by the cleaning company
  • Record and handle invoices and cash or cheques
  • Record schedule information
  • Provide a daily report or log sheet to the cleaning company

Occasionally, house cleaners may:

  • Wash walls
  • Clean inside cupboards and closets
  • Clean inside major appliances
  • Wash the inside of windows
Working Conditions
Updated Apr 11, 2022
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

House cleaners usually work Monday to Friday starting at about 8 am. They work until the day’s assignments are done. This is usually between 3 and 4:30 pm.

Cleaners employed by house cleaning companies often work in teams of 2 or more. They may drive a company car or their own car from home to home. House cleaning teams usually clean 3 to 4 homes a day. Most of the time, the company provides cleaning supplies and equipment.

Self-employed house cleaners often work alone. Solo cleaners visit fewer homes during a single day. They may use the client’s supplies and equipment or provide their own.

Some house cleaning duties are physically demanding. They may involve standing for long periods of time. They may include climbing step ladders, bending, and stretching. Cleaning involves many repetitive movements.

Work Personalities

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.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
R
Realistic
This occupation
You
C
Conventional

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Your Work Personalities

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

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.

Light duty cleaners
2023 OaSIS: 65310.01

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

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.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Abilities Sets

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.

Critical Thinking

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:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Numbers and Patterns

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:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Physical Activity

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:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Mind-Body Coordination

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:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Senses

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:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Apr 11, 2022

House cleaners need:

  • Good health
  • Stamina
  • An ability to follow written and oral instructions
  • Organizational skills
  • Customer service skills
  • An ability to work cooperatively with others
  • An ability to work with little supervision
  • An ability to safely operate a vehicle
  • An ability to find addresses

They should enjoy having clear rules and guidelines and working in an unstructured environment.

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.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Light duty cleaners

2016 NOC: 6731

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 139 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jul 07, 2025 and Oct 08, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Sweep, mop, wash and polish floors
Tasks: Vacuum carpeting, area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture
Tasks: Dust furniture
Tasks: Pick up debris and empty trash containers
Tasks: Clean, disinfect and polish kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances
Tasks: Wash windows, walls and ceilings
Tasks: Make beds and change sheets
Tasks: Distribute clean towels and toiletries
Attention to detail
Tasks: Stock linen closet
Educational Requirements
Updated Apr 11, 2022
  • Minimum Education Less than high school

Residential cleaning companies usually provide training on the job. Some employers may prefer applicants to have a high school diploma. Employment and character references usually are required. Some employers require a criminal record check. They also like workers to have a driver’s abstract.

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 Requirements
Updated Apr 11, 2022
  • Certification Not regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Apr 11, 2022

House cleaners may be self-employed. Others are employed part time or full time by residential cleaning service companies.

House cleaners may move into related occupations such as housekeeping attendant and institutional housekeeper. In larger companies, cleaners may rise into supervisor or office positions.

Industry Concentration

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.

Light duty cleaners
2016 NOC: 6731

81.6% 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.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

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.

Light duty cleaners
2021 NOC: 65310
Balanced
Job Market
28,700
Employed in AB

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.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

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:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Light duty cleaners
2016 NOC: 6731
2.5%
Annual Growth
(Above average)
631
New Positions

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.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Apr 11, 2022

House cleaners may be paid hourly wages. Sometimes they are paid by the job. This is called piece work.

Some employers provide a vehicle and gas. Others may pay extra when the cleaner uses their own car.

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.

Light duty cleaners

2021 NOC: 65310
Average Wage
$18.48
Per Hour
Average Salary
$29,700.00
Per Year
Average Hours
33
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.3
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 65310 Wage Profile

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.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

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.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.00 $19.67 $17.33 $17.00
Overall $15.65 $21.19 $18.48 $18.00
Top $16.00 $26.00 $20.13 $19.63

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

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Construction
Retail Trade
Information, Culture, Recreation
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing
Health Care & Social Assistance
Accommodation & Food Services
Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related)
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
70%
70%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
52%
52%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
21%
21%
Vacancy Rate
7%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Personal and Food Services

Updated Mar 31, 2022. 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.

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