Hotel Front Desk Agent
Welcome hotel guests, check them in and solve problems during their stay.
- $35,070
- 1–2 weeks
Hospitality, Food & Tourism career
Hotel Housekeeper
Also called: Room Attendant · Housekeeping Attendant · Maid · Housekeeper
What hotel housekeepers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a hotel housekeeper do?
Maids and housekeeping cleaners clean hotel rooms and other buildings, making beds, cleaning bathrooms, restocking supplies and reporting maintenance issues. The median pay is $35,510 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 1–2 weeks, and employment is projected to grow +0.6% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$35,510$17.07/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+0.6%2025–35, little or no change
- Openings per year175,500Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to train1–2 weeksTypical program length
- U.S. jobs1,332,100Employment, 2025
What hotel housekeepers do
Housekeepers keep hotels, hospitals, offices and homes clean and comfortable. In hotels, room attendants clean guest rooms, change linens, scrub bathrooms, vacuum, restock amenities and report damage or lost items. Good housekeepers work efficiently and pay close attention to detail.
No formal education is required, and training is on the job. Housekeeping offers steady work, daytime hours and paths to supervisor and executive housekeeper roles.
Typical duties
- Clean guest rooms and bathrooms
- Change linens and make beds
- Vacuum and dust
- Restock amenities and supplies
- Report maintenance issues
- Turn in lost and found items
- Follow chemical safety procedures
Work environment and schedule
Housekeepers work in hotels, resorts, hospitals and offices. The job is physical: bending, lifting, pushing carts and standing all day.
Schedule: Most work daytime shifts, including weekends and holidays.
A day in the life
- Get the room assignment sheet and stock the cart.
- Clean checkout rooms, starting with the bathroom.
- Strip and make beds with fresh linens.
- Report a leaking faucet to maintenance.
See a full day in the life of a hotel housekeeper →
Hotel Housekeeper salary
Half of hotel housekeepers earned more than $35,510 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $27,640 for the lowest 10% to $48,570 for the top 10%.
Full hotel housekeeper pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a hotel housekeeper
- Apply at hotels or cleaning companies
- Learn procedures
- Build speed and quality
- Earn credentials
- Advance
No formal education is required. Housekeepers learn on the job in days.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a hotel housekeeper →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Room cleaning procedures
- Bed making
- Chemical safety
- Time management
- Attention to detail
People skills
- Reliability
- Attention to detail
- Integrity
- Efficiency
All hotel housekeeper skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No experience needed
- Daytime schedules
- Steady demand
- Paths to supervision
Cons
- Physically demanding
- Repetitive tasks
- Chemical exposure
- Modest pay
Certifications and licenses
- AHLEI Certified Guestroom Attendant: Hotel housekeeping credential.
- Bloodborne pathogens training: Safety training for cleaning.
- Chemical safety training: Training on SDS and safe use.
- Green cleaning training: Environmentally friendly cleaning methods.
Career path
- Room Attendant: Clean guest rooms.
- Room Inspector: Check room quality.
- Housekeeping Supervisor: Lead housekeeping shifts.
- Executive Housekeeper: Manage housekeeping.
Learn the job before day one
Our Hotel Housekeeper training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as clean a checkout room and make a bed to hotel standard, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Building Maintenance Technician
Keep apartments, offices, schools and facilities running with everyday repairs.
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Home Health Aide
Help older adults and people with disabilities live safely and comfortably at home.
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Concierge
Help guests and residents get reservations, tickets, tips and anything they need.
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Compare: Hotel Housekeeper vs. Front Desk Agent · Hotel Housekeeper vs. Building Maintenance Tech · Hotel Housekeeper vs. Home Health Aide · Hotel Housekeeper vs. Concierge
Hotel Housekeeper FAQ
Do housekeepers need experience?
No. Hotels train new staff.
Is housekeeping physically hard?
Yes, it involves lifting, bending and standing.
Can housekeepers become managers?
Yes, many become supervisors and executive housekeepers.
How much does a hotel housekeeper make?
The median annual wage for hotel housekeepers was $35,510 ($17.07 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $27,640 and the highest 10% earned more than $48,570.
How long does it take to become a hotel housekeeper?
Most people need about 1–2 weeks of training. No formal education is required. Housekeepers learn on the job in days.
Do you need a degree to be a hotel housekeeper?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
More hotel housekeeper questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 37-2012 (Maids and housekeeping cleaners).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Maids and housekeeping cleaners (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.