Quick answer: The median cleaner in California earns $19.75/hr — about $41,090 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025), and the most experienced earn $59,000+. To hire one, a cleaning business typically bills $45–$60 per hour — roughly 2–3× the worker's wage, to cover overhead and profit.
Here's the full picture: what cleaners earn, what shops bill, what common jobs cost, how pay varies by metro, and how California compares to other states.
Cleaner income in California (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for California's ~234,240 janitors, and cleaners:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $17.12 | ~$2,967 | ~$35,610 |
| Median (typical) | $19.75 | ~$3,424 | $41,090 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $28.34 | ~$4,912 | ~$58,947 |
Monthly and annual figures assume full-time work (about 2,080 hours a year).
What you earn vs. what you charge
The wages above are what a cleaner takes home. What a cleaning business bills the customer is higher — it has to cover the truck, tools, insurance, licensing, fuel, office time, and profit. A shop typically bills 2.2–3× the worker's wage:
| Rate | |
|---|---|
| Median cleaner wage (earned) | ~$20/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $45–$60/hr |
Where California ranks
California pays cleaners 12% above the national median, ranking 4th of 51 states — among the highest-paying states in the country:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Massachusetts | $21.91 |
| California (4th) | $19.75 |
| National median | $17.71 |
| Lowest — Mississippi | $13.64 |
Cleaner rates by California metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median cleaner wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $21.24/hr | $45–$65/hr |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $21.09/hr | $45–$65/hr |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $20.43/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $19.93/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $19.64/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $18.62/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $18.49/hr | $40–$55/hr |
What common cleaning jobs cost in California
At California billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical California range |
|---|---|
| Standard house cleaning (per visit) | $100–$275 |
| Deep cleaning | $225–$550 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | $275–$675 |
| Office cleaning (per visit) | $100–$450 |
| Carpet cleaning | $100–$400 |
| Window cleaning | $175–$450 |
| Post-construction cleanup | $325–$1,125 |
| Recurring weekly service | $100–$225 |
| Apartment cleaning | $100–$225 |
| Airbnb turnover clean | $100–$275 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How cleaners compare to other trades in California
Here's how cleaner pay lines up against California's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Roofer | $30.58/hr | $65–$90/hr |
| Painter | $28.38/hr | $60–$85/hr |
| Handyman | $27.41/hr | $60–$80/hr |
| Landscaper | $21.90/hr | $50–$65/hr |
| Cleaner | $19.75/hr | $45–$60/hr |
Setting your own rate
Use these as benchmarks, not rules — your rate has to cover your real overhead and the profit margin you need. See how to price a job to run the math, then build a quote with the free cleaner estimate generator, or download BIG INVOICE to invoice from your phone with your rates saved.
Do cleaners need a license in California?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See California contractor & trade licensing to check whether cleaners need a state license in California, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners make in California?
The median cleaner in California earns about $41,090 a year ($19.75/hr) per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Entry-level cleaners earn around $36,000 and the most experienced earn $59,000 or more.
Can a cleaner make $100,000 a year in California?
Rarely as an employee — the top 10% of cleaners in California earn about $59,000 a year. The usual path past $100,000 is running your own cleaning business and billing $45–$60/hr, where revenue — not just an hourly wage — is the ceiling.
How much do cleaners charge per hour in California?
In 2025, most California cleaners bill $45–$60 per hour. That billed rate covers the worker's wage (a $20/hr median) plus overhead and profit — it is not take-home pay.
Do cleaners earn more in California than nationally?
Yes — California's median cleaner wage is about 12% above the national median of $17.71/hr, ranking 4th of 51 states.
Which California city pays cleaners the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, at a $21.24/hr median wage, is among the highest-paying metros in the state for cleaners.
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Billed rates and job-cost ranges are illustrative estimates (median wage × 2.2–3.0 overhead-and-profit markup), not quotes. Updated August 2026.