Quick answer: Cleaners in Delaware typically bill $35–$50 per hour (2025). The median cleaner earns $16.98/hr ($35,320/year) per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data — a cleaning business charges roughly 2–3× that 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 Delaware compares to other states.
Cleaner income in Delaware (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Delaware's ~9,220 janitors, and cleaners:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $15.00 | ~$2,600 | ~$31,200 |
| Median (typical) | $16.98 | ~$2,943 | $35,320 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $23.33 | ~$4,044 | ~$48,526 |
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) | ~$17/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $35–$50/hr |
Where Delaware ranks
Delaware pays cleaners 4% below the national median, ranking 35th of 51 states — in the lower-middle nationally:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Massachusetts | $21.91 |
| Delaware (35th) | $16.98 |
| National median | $17.71 |
| Lowest — Mississippi | $13.64 |
Cleaner rates by Delaware metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median cleaner wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | $16.98/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $16.84/hr | $35–$50/hr |
What common cleaning jobs cost in Delaware
At Delaware billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical Delaware range |
|---|---|
| Standard house cleaning (per visit) | $100–$250 |
| Deep cleaning | $200–$475 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | $250–$575 |
| Office cleaning (per visit) | $100–$375 |
| Carpet cleaning | $100–$325 |
| Window cleaning | $150–$375 |
| Post-construction cleanup | $300–$950 |
| Recurring weekly service | $75–$200 |
| Apartment cleaning | $75–$200 |
| Airbnb turnover clean | $75–$250 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How cleaners compare to other trades in Delaware
Here's how cleaner pay lines up against Delaware's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Roofer | $28.58/hr | $65–$85/hr |
| Painter | $28.14/hr | $60–$85/hr |
| Handyman | $24.11/hr | $55–$70/hr |
| Landscaper | $17.96/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Cleaner | $16.98/hr | $35–$50/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 Delaware?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See Delaware contractor & trade licensing to check whether cleaners need a state license in Delaware, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners charge per hour in Delaware?
In 2025, most Delaware cleaners bill $35–$50 per hour. That rate covers the worker's wage (a $17/hr median) plus overhead and profit.
What is the average cleaner salary in Delaware?
The median cleaner in Delaware earns about $35,320 a year ($16.98/hr). Entry-level cleaners earn around $31,000 and the most experienced earn $49,000 or more.
Do cleaners earn more in Delaware than nationally?
Delaware's median cleaner wage is about 4% below the national median of $17.71/hr, ranking 35th of 51 states.
Which Delaware city pays cleaners the most?
Dover, at a $16.98/hr median wage, is among the highest-paying metros in the state.
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.