Quick answer: Cleaners in South Carolina typically bill $35–$45 per hour (2025). The median cleaner earns $14.99/hr ($31,180/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 South Carolina compares to other states.
Cleaner income in South Carolina (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for South Carolina's ~30,100 janitors, and cleaners:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $11.29 | ~$1,957 | ~$23,483 |
| Median (typical) | $14.99 | ~$2,598 | $31,180 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $20.05 | ~$3,475 | ~$41,704 |
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) | ~$15/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $35–$45/hr |
Where South Carolina ranks
South Carolina pays cleaners 15% below the national median, ranking 45th of 51 states — among the lowest-paying states in the country:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Massachusetts | $21.91 |
| South Carolina (45th) | $14.99 |
| National median | $17.71 |
| Lowest — Mississippi | $13.64 |
Cleaner rates by South Carolina metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median cleaner wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $16.94/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $16.53/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| Columbia | $15.47/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Spartanburg | $15.20/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $14.99/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $14.73/hr | $30–$45/hr |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $14.54/hr | $30–$45/hr |
Charleston-North Charleston is one of the higher-paying metros in the state for cleaners, reflecting local demand and cost of living.
What common cleaning jobs cost in South Carolina
At South Carolina billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical South Carolina range |
|---|---|
| Standard house cleaning (per visit) | $75–$200 |
| Deep cleaning | $175–$425 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | $200–$500 |
| Office cleaning (per visit) | $75–$350 |
| Carpet cleaning | $75–$300 |
| Window cleaning | $125–$350 |
| Post-construction cleanup | $250–$850 |
| Recurring weekly service | $75–$175 |
| Apartment cleaning | $75–$175 |
| Airbnb turnover clean | $75–$200 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How cleaners compare to other trades in South Carolina
Here's how cleaner pay lines up against South Carolina's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman | $23.02/hr | $50–$70/hr |
| Roofer | $22.00/hr | $50–$65/hr |
| Painter | $19.64/hr | $45–$60/hr |
| Landscaper | $17.65/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Cleaner | $14.99/hr | $35–$45/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 South Carolina?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See South Carolina contractor & trade licensing to check whether cleaners need a state license in South Carolina, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners charge per hour in South Carolina?
In 2025, most South Carolina cleaners bill $35–$45 per hour. That rate covers the worker's wage (a $15/hr median) plus overhead and profit.
What is the average cleaner salary in South Carolina?
The median cleaner in South Carolina earns about $31,180 a year ($14.99/hr). Entry-level cleaners earn around $23,000 and the most experienced earn $42,000 or more.
Do cleaners earn more in South Carolina than nationally?
South Carolina's median cleaner wage is about 15% below the national median of $17.71/hr, ranking 45th of 51 states.
Which South Carolina city pays cleaners the most?
Charleston-North Charleston, at a $16.94/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.