How to become a first-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial worker

Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What first-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers do

• Advise managers, desk clerks, or admitting personnel of rooms ready for occupancy.
• Plan and prepare employee work schedules.
• Forecast necessary levels of staffing and stock at different times to facilitate effective scheduling and ordering.
• Supervise in-house services, such as laundries, maintenance and repair, dry cleaning, or valet services.
• Select the most suitable cleaning materials for different types of linens, furniture, flooring, and surfaces.
• Perform or assist with cleaning duties as necessary.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning

Is first-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial worker a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 4% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $63,550
• Rhode Island $63,520
• California $61,470
• New York $60,580
• Massachusetts $59,760

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.