How much do cleaners earn in the UK

What do UK cleaning professionals actually earn in 2026, and how do wages vary by job type, location and employment status?

What is the average hourly rate for cleaners in the UK?

The Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for 2026 reports that UK cleaners earn a median hourly wage of £11.80 across all cleaning occupations.¹ However, this figure masks significant variation by job type, contract and location.

Breaking down by employment type:

Employed cleaners (PAYE)

£10.50-£14.50/hour median range, with most roles clustering at £11-12/hour for part-time domestic and £12-14/hour for full-time commercial contracts.

Self-employed cleaners

£12-18/hour typical charging rates, with domestic cleaning at £12-15/hour and end-of-tenancy or specialist deep cleans commanding £15-20/hour in most UK regions.

London premium

15-20% above UK average, with self-employed domestic cleaners in central London boroughs charging £15-22/hour.

Indeed UK salary data from Q2 2026 shows 11,400 cleaning job postings with advertised pay averaging £11.60/hour for part-time roles and £12.80/hour for full-time positions.² Reed.co.uk reports similar figures, with commercial cleaning roles averaging £24,960 annually (£12/hour equivalent) and domestic cleaning advertised at £10.80-13.20/hour.³

How much do full-time cleaners earn per year?

A full-time cleaner working 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year (1,950 hours annually) earns:

• At £11.20/hour (entry-level employed): £21,840 per year gross
• At £12.50/hour (experienced employed): £24,375 per year gross
• At £14.50/hour (senior/supervisor roles): £28,275 per year gross
• At £15.50/hour (London commercial): £30,225 per year gross

These are gross figures before income tax and National Insurance. A cleaner earning £24,000 gross would pay approximately:

• Income tax: £2,286 (20% on earnings above £12,570 personal allowance, 2026-27 tax year)⁴
• National Insurance: £1,372 (8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270)⁴
• Net annual income: £20,342 (approximately £1,695/month)

What do self-employed cleaners earn after tax?

Self-employed cleaners have higher gross charging rates but must deduct business expenses and pay both Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions.

Example: Self-employed domestic cleaner working 25 hours per week, 48 weeks per year (allowing 4 weeks unpaid holiday) at £14 per hour:

• Gross turnover: 25 × 48 × £14 = £16,800
• Business expenses (cleaning supplies, travel, insurance, phone): approximately £1,800/year (£150/month)
• Profit for tax purposes: £15,000

Tax and NI on £15,000 profit:

• Class 2 NI: £179.40 (£3.45/week fixed rate, mandatory if profits exceed £6,725)⁴
• Class 4 NI: £194 (8% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270)
• Income tax: £486 (20% on £15,000 minus £12,570 personal allowance)
• Total deductions: £859
• Net income: £14,141 (£11.80/hour net, or £295/week)

This example shows the net hourly rate for self-employed cleaners is approximately £2-3/hour lower than the gross charging rate once tax, NI and business expenses are deducted. However, self-employed cleaners have flexibility over hours and can scale earnings by taking on more clients.

Do cleaners earn more in London?

Yes. London cleaning wages are 15-20% higher than the UK average, with the premium most pronounced for self-employed domestic cleaners in inner London boroughs.

ONS regional earnings data shows cleaners in London earn a median of £13.50/hour compared to £11.40/hour in the North East (the lowest-paid UK region).¹ Self-employed cleaners in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Islington commonly charge £18-22/hour for regular domestic cleaning, compared to £12-14/hour in most Northern and Midlands towns.

However, London's higher cost of living (particularly rent and transport) reduces the real-terms purchasing power of these higher wages. A £15/hour cleaner in London may have lower disposable income than a £12/hour cleaner in a lower-cost region.

How do cleaning wages vary by job type?

Cleaning is not a single occupation. Pay varies significantly depending on the sector, employer type, and specialization:

Domestic cleaning (private homes)

£10.50-13/hour employed, £12-15/hour self-employed. Most common part-time role. Typically 2-4 hour blocks per client.

Commercial cleaning (offices, retail)

£11-14/hour, often full-time contracts. Evening and weekend shifts common. May include supervisory roles at £14-16/hour.

Hospital and healthcare cleaning

£12-15/hour through NHS and private healthcare employers. Requires enhanced DBS check. Structured pay scales with annual increments.

School and education cleaning

£11-13.50/hour, typically term-time only (39 weeks/year). Hours usually after school day ends (3:30pm-6pm).

Specialist cleaning (end-of-tenancy, deep cleans, post-construction)

£15-20/hour for experienced self-employed cleaners. One-off jobs, higher intensity, requires specialist equipment and training.

NHS Agenda for Change pay scales place domestic cleaners at Band 2, with 2026-27 rates starting at £23,615 annually (£12.10/hour) and rising to £24,336 after experience increments.⁵ This includes pension contributions, sick pay, and annual leave, making total remuneration significantly higher than the base hourly rate.

What affects how much cleaners earn?

Beyond job type and location, several factors influence cleaning wages:

• Experience: Newly trained cleaners typically start 10-15% below experienced workers. Commercial cleaning supervisors with 5+ years experience earn £14-17/hour.
• Qualifications: BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science) certification can add £0.50-1/hour to rates in commercial contracts. Healthcare cleaning often requires Level 2 NVQ or equivalent.
• Contract type: Permanent contracts with large facilities management companies (ISS, Mitie, OCS) offer lower hourly rates (£11-12/hour) but guaranteed hours, sick pay and pension. Agency and zero-hours contracts pay higher hourly rates (£12-14/hour) but no guaranteed hours or benefits.
• Hours and shift patterns: Unsociable hours (early mornings, evenings, weekends) may attract shift premiums of 10-25%. Full-time contracts typically pay slightly more per hour than part-time.
• Client type: Self-employed cleaners report that affluent residential clients pay higher rates (£15-18/hour) than budget-conscious clients (£12-13/hour) for the same work.

How do cleaning wages compare to other jobs?

Cleaning sits in the lower quartile of UK occupational earnings. The UK median hourly wage across all occupations is £17.20/hour (ONS 2026), meaning cleaners earn approximately 30-35% below the national median.¹

However, cleaning compares favorably to other entry-level roles with similar skill requirements:

• Retail assistants: £10.50-11.80/hour
• Care assistants: £11-12.50/hour (though often emotionally demanding)
• Kitchen porters: £10.50-12/hour
• Warehouse operatives: £11.50-13/hour

For workers seeking part-time, flexible hours with relatively low barriers to entry, cleaning offers wages at the higher end of comparable roles, particularly when self-employed.

Last reviewed: 19 July 2026