Housekeepers & Maids Description OES Code: 670020 Perform any combination of tasks to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and arranging furniture. CA Wages/hour median range New, no experience: minimum minimum – $8.66 New, experienced: minimum minimum – $9.21 3 yrs+ experience: $6.50 minimum – $11.00 Workers who handle contaminated or hazardous waste material usually earn the higher wage. Salaries can vary widely between economy motels used for a one or two-night stay and the luxury resort hotels that are often a destination in themselves. Resorts and first-class hotels usually pay higher wages. Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES Survey Hours & Benefits Housekeepers can be scheduled to work day, evening or night shifts, and often work weekends and holidays. Fringe benefits may include vacation and sick leave, medical and dental coverage and retirement plans. Some employers pay for vision care and life insurance. Employment Trends Employment 1996 78,380 Projected Employment 2006 83,950 Growth Rate 1996-2006 5.8% Openings due to Separations 14,710 Employment Trends by California County The occupation is expected to grow at an average pace. Openings that will happen due to workers leaving the labor market will account for about as many jobs as those produced by industry expansion. The hotel and motel industry depends on business and tourist travel and should stabilize or grow as the economy recovers. However, if the level of health care coverage for active and retired workers and their families remains stable, health care facilities should continue to multiply and expand. Advancement Housekeepers in both hospitals and lodging can be promoted to housekeeping supervisors; some advance to executive housekeeper or housekeeping manager. References Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Hospital & Lodging Housekeepers #551 Related Occupation: Janitors & Cleaners #88, Private Household Workers #395 Training: California State Training Inventory For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training This work is learned on the job. Most recently hired Housekeepers, new to the occupation, have a high school diploma. Workers need both oral and written communication skills and must have the ability to deal skillfully with all kinds of people some of them may be quite ill or upset. Hospitals may require a current first aid certificate. High school students or first time job seekers who want to work in hospitals should do any type of volunteer job in hospitals, nursing or convalescent places to decide if they would really like to work around patients. Skills & Other Requirements Housekeeping Cleaners clean rooms and halls in hotels, motels and inns. They use wheeled supply carts to carry linen, towels, toilet items and cleaning supplies on their rounds. They make beds and put fresh towels, toiletries, glasses and stationary supplies in the rooms. They may move furniture, hang drapes and roll up carpets. Housecleaners move and arrange furniture, turn mattresses, hang draperies, dust blinds and polish metal work in lodging establishments. They prepare rooms for meetings and arrange decorations and media equipment and furniture for social or business functions. Part of this job usually includes receipt and storage of linens, collections of soiled linen for laundering and delivery of cribs or rollaway beds to guests. Housecleaners may also clean driveways and swimming pool areas. Getting the Job & Other Information Often hospital workers take nurse aide or licensed vocational nurse training and go into health care jobs. Others take special training and transfer to medical receptionist or hospital admitting positions. Most job seekers get hired by applying directly to hospitals, hotels and motels. Employers also list jobs in help-wanted sections of newspaper ads. Job seekers should also register with the nearest Employment Development Department. © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.