The domestic cleaner, also known as a housekeeper, can work for individuals, in agencies or for companies. In the latter case, the domestic cleaner is in charge of maintaining cleanliness at the office or a workspace.
Therefore, the domestic cleaner’s salary may vary depending on the tasks assigned to them. Below, you will find all the essential information about the salary of a domestic cleaner according to various criteria.
The job of domestic cleaner: What does he or she do?
The main job of a housekeeper is to take care of the cleaning of a place. This involves many very varied tasks which are defined by his or her contract.
If you aspire to become a domestic cleaner, your daily work tasks will consist of:
- vacuuming
- dusting
- ironing
- tidying up
- and washing clothes
You could also be asked to do other cleaning related tasks if the client desires.
When it comes to where you can work, you will have three options:
- Work in an agency
- In private homes
- Within a company
If you choose to work for a company, you will have to work late at night or early in the morning. Regarding the salary, you will receive at least the minimum wage, which is assessed at £8.91 gross per hour.
Housekeeper salary for an individual
Do you want to work your own hours and become a domestic cleaner for individuals, outside an agency? Note that the salary scale for the position of housekeeper in an individual varies according to several criteria, in particular:
- Age
- The experience
- Sector or location
At the start of their career, a domestic cleaner at a private home will be paid around £8.91 net per hour, against a remuneration of £11.20 to £14 net per hour at the end of her career (i.e. with more than 20 years of experience) .
In mid-career (i.e. with experience between 4 and 9 years), the average remuneration is £10 net per hour.
The position of housekeeper in a private household is predominantly held by women, whose average age is between 50 and 55 years old.
Domestic cleaner salary in agency
Working as a domestic cleaner in an agency has certain advantages. The agency takes care of administrative procedures and finding clients. In an agency, a housekeeper’s salary is calculated according to his/her qualifications, and transport costs must be included.
However, even if the amounts invoiced to the client vary according to the services requested, your salary will always be calculated on the same basis. The latter generally varies between £16 and £18 per hour, without any additional charges from your pocket.
Related reading: Roisin, Wecasa domestic cleaner – “I am my own boss, I can book my own holidays”
Self-employed domestic cleaner salary
Does the idea of being your own boss appeal to you? Well, you can work as a self-employed housekeeper. To do this, you will have to declare your expenses yourself, which are calculated at 22% of your income, and pay them.
Finding new clients for domestic cleaning jobs when you are a housekeeper or domestic cleaner is not always easy. You will need to create awareness and a good reputation.
The remuneration of a self-employed cleaning lady can vary between £10 and £16 gross per hour, according to several criteria such as:
- The level of qualification
- The nature of the services and the tasks to be performed
- Frequency of interventions
A domestic cleaner can work occasionally, on CDI, CDD or even on a temporary basis. As part of a self-employed business, you can offer attractive rates to your regular and fixed customers, which may encourage your occasional household customers to use your services more often.
What training is needed to become a domestic cleaner?
To access the profession of domestic cleaner, no diploma is required, but the job requires some skills to be considered a great cleaner and find a good job. However, if you want to easily progress in the profession, you can still opt for a Cleanliness and Maintenance Agent CAP. This 2-year training course will help you master the tricks of the trade, and can be supplemented by a Civil and Business Security mention for a period of 1 year. This will help you learn more about and master the rules of health and safety.
Regardless of your status, the job of domestic cleaner requires you to be autonomous, meticulous and organized.
