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House Cleaner
House cleaners provide cleaning services in private homes.
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Avg. Salary $27,544.00
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Avg. Wage $17.17
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Minimum Education Less than high school
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Outlook above avg
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Employed 29,400
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In Demand Lower
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: Light Duty Cleaners (6661)
- 2006 NOC-S: Light Duty Cleaners (G931)
- 2011 NOC: Light duty cleaners (6731)
- 2016 NOC: Light duty cleaners (6731)
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
68%
68%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
| Starting | $16.17 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $17.17 |
| Top | $18.74 |
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Certification Not Regulated
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Interest Codes
The House Cleaner is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Light Duty Cleaners
- METHODICAL
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Interest in copying instructions to clean lobbies, hallways, offices and rooms of hotels, hospitals, schools, office buildings and private residences, and to disinfect operating rooms and other hospital areas
- OBJECTIVE
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Interest in handling equipment to sweep, mop, wash, wax and polish floors, and to vacuum carpeting and area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture
- innovative
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Interest in inspecting surfaces and objects for dust, dirt and grease to determine appropriate cleaning products to use
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Duties
Updated Mar 19, 2018
Duties vary depending on what the customer needs and wants. In general, house cleaners do routine cleaning tasks each time they visit. They may do 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 to the cleaning company.
Occasionally, house cleaners may:
- wash walls
- clean inside cupboards and closets
- clean inside appliances
- wash the inside of windows.
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 19, 2018
House cleaners usually work Monday to Friday starting at about 8 a.m. They work until the day’s assignments are done. This is usually between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Self-employed house cleaners often work alone. 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. Solo cleaners visit fewer homes during a single day. Most of the time, the company provides cleaning supplies and equipment.
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. There are many repetitive movements.
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Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated Mar 19, 2018
House cleaners need:
- good health
- stamina
- an ability to follow written and oral instructions
- organizational skills
- customer service skills
- an ability to work co-operatively 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 for their work
- using cleaning materials and equipment.
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 19, 2018
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.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification Requirements
Updated Dec 19, 2016
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 19, 2018
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.
House cleaners are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6731: Light duty cleaners. In Alberta, 81% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
- Business, Buildings and Other Support Services [pdf]
- Accommodation and Food Service [pdf]
- Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf].
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industries listed above
- location in Alberta
- employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
- occupational growth (when new positions are created)
- size of the occupation.
In Alberta, the G931: Light Duty Cleaners occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.3% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 702 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 19, 2018
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.
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Starting
Overall
Top
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $19.24 | $16.17 | $15.50 |
| Overall | $15.00 | $20.50 | $17.17 | $16.55 |
| Top | $15.00 | $23.09 | $18.74 | $18.00 |
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.
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.
Industry Information
| Public Administration | $41,612 |
|---|---|
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $32,912 |
| Educational Services | $32,769 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $29,849 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $27,544 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $27,075 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $26,642 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $24,483 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $24,099 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
68%
68%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
39%
39%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
10%
10%
Vacancy Rate
4%
Updated Mar 19, 2018. 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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