Quick answer: The median cleaner in Indiana earns $17.53/hr — about $36,460 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025), and the most experienced earn $46,000+. To hire one, a cleaning business typically bills $40–$55 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 Indiana compares to other states.
Cleaner income in Indiana (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Indiana's ~49,220 janitors, and cleaners:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $13.88 | ~$2,406 | ~$28,870 |
| Median (typical) | $17.53 | ~$3,038 | $36,460 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $22.35 | ~$3,874 | ~$46,488 |
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) | ~$18/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $40–$55/hr |
Where Indiana ranks
Indiana pays cleaners right at the national median, ranking 24th of 51 states — right around the national middle:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Massachusetts | $21.91 |
| Indiana (24th) | $17.53 |
| National median | $17.71 |
| Lowest — Mississippi | $13.64 |
Cleaner rates by Indiana metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median cleaner wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $18.49/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $17.72/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Fort Wayne | $17.55/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $17.28/hr | $40–$50/hr |
| Evansville | $17.27/hr | $40–$50/hr |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $17.24/hr | $40–$50/hr |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $17.22/hr | $40–$50/hr |
What common cleaning jobs cost in Indiana
At Indiana billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical Indiana range |
|---|---|
| Standard house cleaning (per visit) | $100–$250 |
| Deep cleaning | $200–$500 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | $250–$600 |
| Office cleaning (per visit) | $100–$400 |
| Carpet cleaning | $100–$350 |
| Window cleaning | $150–$400 |
| Post-construction cleanup | $300–$1,000 |
| Recurring weekly service | $75–$200 |
| Apartment cleaning | $75–$200 |
| Airbnb turnover clean | $100–$250 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How cleaners compare to other trades in Indiana
Here's how cleaner pay lines up against Indiana's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Roofer | $27.88/hr | $60–$85/hr |
| Painter | $24.16/hr | $55–$70/hr |
| Handyman | $23.99/hr | $55–$70/hr |
| Landscaper | $18.30/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Cleaner | $17.53/hr | $40–$55/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 Indiana?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See Indiana contractor & trade licensing to check whether cleaners need a state license in Indiana, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners make in Indiana?
The median cleaner in Indiana earns about $36,460 a year ($17.53/hr) per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Entry-level cleaners earn around $29,000 and the most experienced earn $46,000 or more.
Can a cleaner make $100,000 a year in Indiana?
Rarely as an employee — the top 10% of cleaners in Indiana earn about $46,000 a year. The usual path past $100,000 is running your own cleaning business and billing $40–$55/hr, where revenue — not just an hourly wage — is the ceiling.
How much do cleaners charge per hour in Indiana?
In 2025, most Indiana cleaners bill $40–$55 per hour. That billed rate covers the worker's wage (a $18/hr median) plus overhead and profit — it is not take-home pay.
Do cleaners earn more in Indiana than nationally?
Indiana pays cleaners right about the national median of $17.71/hr, ranking 24th of 51 states.
Which Indiana city pays cleaners the most?
Lafayette-West Lafayette, at a $18.49/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.