Occupation Details
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,580.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$37,640.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$47,880.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
65,510
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
86,510
+2,100 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
12,153
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Quick Start - High school or less
Experience Requirements
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Education Requirements
Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Backpack vacuums
- Carpet steamers
- Cleaning brushes
- Cleaning scrapers
- Clothes ironing equipment
- Commercial automatic floor scrubbers
- Commercial dishwashers
- Dust masks
- Dust mops
- Dusters
- Floor burnishers
- Floor scrubbing machines
- Household dryers
- Household washers
- Housekeeping carts
- Industrial clothes dryers
- Industrial sewing machines
- Industrial vacuum cleaners
- Light commercial washing machines
- Mop wringers
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Power floor buffers
- Pressure washers
- Protective face shields
- Push brooms
- Safety blades
- Safety goggles
- Scouring pads
- Sponges
Technology
- Blink
- Computerized bed control system software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Eko
- Email software
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain records, reports, or files
- assign work to staff or employees
- operate cleaning equipment
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- explain work orders, specifications, or work techniques to workers
- sort articles for laundry or dry cleaning
- stock or organize goods
- plan menus
- clean linens
- cook meals
- remove stains from fabric or carpet
- serve food or beverages
- feed or water animals
- groom animals
- attend to or care for children
- assist patient with dressing, undressing, grooming, or bathing
- apply cleaning solvents
- move or fit heavy objects
- clean rooms or work areas
- clean or wax floors
- arrange decorations or furniture for banquets or social functions
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Keep storage areas and carts well-stocked, clean, and tidy.
- Carry linens, towels, toilet items, and cleaning supplies, using wheeled carts.
- Clean rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met.
- Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operated sterilizers.
- Empty wastebaskets, empty and clean ashtrays, and transport other trash and waste to disposal areas.
- Sweep, scrub, wax, or polish floors, using brooms, mops, or powered scrubbing and waxing machines.
- Observe precautions required to protect hotel and guest property and report damage, theft, and found articles to supervisors.
- Replenish supplies, such as drinking glasses, linens, writing supplies, and bathroom items.
- Sort, count, and mark clean linens and store them in linen closets.
- Clean rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies, using vacuum cleaners and shampooers.
- Sort clothing and other articles, load washing machines, and iron and fold dried items.
- Wash windows, walls, ceilings, and woodwork, waxing and polishing as necessary.
- Dust and polish furniture and equipment.
- Assign duties to other staff and give instructions regarding work methods and routines.
- Move and arrange furniture and turn mattresses.
- Answer telephones and doorbells.
- Replace light bulbs.
- Deliver television sets, ironing boards, baby cribs, and rollaway beds to guests' rooms.
- Hang draperies and dust window blinds.
- Request repair services and wait for repair workers to arrive.
- Prepare rooms for meetings and arrange decorations, media equipment, and furniture for social or business functions.
- Remove debris from driveways, garages, and swimming pool areas.
- Wash dishes and clean kitchens, cooking utensils, and silverware.
- Polish silver accessories and metalwork, such as fixtures and fittings.
- Run errands, such as taking laundry to the cleaners and buying groceries.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Building cleaning workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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