Quick answer: Cleaners in Texas typically bill $35–$50 per hour (2025). The median cleaner earns $15.87/hr ($33,010/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 Texas compares to other states.
Cleaner income in Texas (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Texas's ~184,840 janitors, and cleaners:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $11.28 | ~$1,955 | ~$23,462 |
| Median (typical) | $15.87 | ~$2,751 | $33,010 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $22.09 | ~$3,829 | ~$45,947 |
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) | ~$16/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $35–$50/hr |
Where Texas ranks
Texas pays cleaners 10% below the national median, ranking 42nd of 51 states — among the lowest-paying states in the country:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Massachusetts | $21.91 |
| Texas (42nd) | $15.87 |
| National median | $17.71 |
| Lowest — Mississippi | $13.64 |
Cleaner rates by Texas metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median cleaner wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $17.75/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $16.76/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $16.61/hr | $35–$50/hr |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $15.53/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $15.05/hr | $35–$45/hr |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $14.74/hr | $30–$45/hr |
| El Paso | $14.72/hr | $30–$45/hr |
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 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 Texas
At Texas billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical Texas range |
|---|---|
| Standard house cleaning (per visit) | $100–$225 |
| Deep cleaning | $175–$450 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | $225–$550 |
| Office cleaning (per visit) | $100–$350 |
| Carpet cleaning | $100–$325 |
| Window cleaning | $125–$350 |
| Post-construction cleanup | $275–$900 |
| Recurring weekly service | $75–$175 |
| Apartment cleaning | $75–$175 |
| Airbnb turnover clean | $75–$225 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How cleaners compare to other trades in Texas
Here's how cleaner pay lines up against Texas's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman | $22.44/hr | $50–$65/hr |
| Roofer | $22.13/hr | $50–$65/hr |
| Painter | $21.86/hr | $50–$65/hr |
| Landscaper | $17.66/hr | $40–$55/hr |
| Cleaner | $15.87/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 Texas?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See Texas contractor & trade licensing to check whether cleaners need a state license in Texas, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cleaners charge per hour in Texas?
In 2025, most Texas cleaners bill $35–$50 per hour. That rate covers the worker's wage (a $16/hr median) plus overhead and profit.
What is the average cleaner salary in Texas?
The median cleaner in Texas earns about $33,010 a year ($15.87/hr). Entry-level cleaners earn around $23,000 and the most experienced earn $46,000 or more.
Do cleaners earn more in Texas than nationally?
Texas's median cleaner wage is about 10% below the national median of $17.71/hr, ranking 42nd of 51 states.
Which Texas city pays cleaners the most?
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, at a $17.75/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.