Prevailing Wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Prevailing wage floors for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (SOC 37-2012) are set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Cleaner positions to senior Chambermaid and Guest Room Attendant roles. Whether you work in a hotel, hospital, or private household, the floor varies significantly by city and worksite location.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$27K
$13.00/hr

Entry-level cleaners with little or no prior housekeeping experience in a formal employment setting. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and well-defined, and independent judgment is minimal. Most positions in smaller hotels or residential accounts file here.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$30K
$14.19/hr

Workers with some practical housekeeping experience who perform standard duties with limited supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners, covering the majority of hotel room attendant and institutional cleaning positions.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$32K
$15.39/hr

Experienced cleaners who work largely independently, handle non-routine situations, and may train newer staff. Roles requiring knowledge of specialized cleaning protocols, such as medical-facility sanitation standards, typically land at this level.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$34K
$16.51/hr

Senior or lead housekeeping professionals responsible for quality checks, scheduling, or overseeing a section of a large property. Fully competent workers who exercise independent judgment and set standards for others file at Level 4.

Prevailing Wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$0K/yr$44K/yr

What’s an OES area?

The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.

Top 10 cities · Level 1

1
Kahului, HI
Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro
$44K$20.98/hr
2
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$41K$19.59/hr
3
Honolulu, HI
Urban Honolulu, HI metro
$40K$19.40/hr
4
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$39K$18.73/hr
5
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$38K$18.27/hr
6
Napa, CA
Napa, CA metro
$37K$17.72/hr
7
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro
$37K$17.56/hr
8
Boston, MA
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro
$36K$17.43/hr
9
Bremerton, WA
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro
$36K$17.38/hr
10
Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA metro
$36K$17.26/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Watch how hotel chains classify room attendant titles

Large hotel employers sometimes file LCAs under facility-services or porter SOC codes rather than SOC 37-2012, which can result in a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm the LCA lists your exact job title and the correct SOC before accepting an offer.

Factor out tips and non-cash benefits before comparing

For housekeeping roles at resorts and hotels, gratuities and free accommodation are common. DOL prevailing wage compliance uses the cash wage on the LCA only; tips and lodging do not count toward meeting the floor for sponsored positions.

Prioritize high-cost coastal metros for stronger wage floors

Housekeeping wages in San Jose, Honolulu, and San Francisco are notably higher than national medians. If you have flexibility on location, the prevailing wage floor in these metros is substantially above the national entry-level figure, which improves your negotiating position.

Use Migrate Mate to find employers with housekeeping sponsorship history

Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners for visas, so you can focus your search on hotels and hospitality groups that have actually completed the LCA and sponsorship process for this occupation before.

Jobs for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 37-2012.00 alongside Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Chambermaid Prevailing Wage

Chambermaid positions fall under SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Cleaner Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cleaner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Cottage Attendant Prevailing Wage

Cottage Attendant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Environmental Services Aide Prevailing Wage

Environmental Services Aide positions fall under SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Environmental Services Worker Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Environmental Services Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Guest Room Attendant (GRA) Prevailing Wage

Guest Room Attendant (GRA) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Housekeeper Prevailing Wage

Housekeeper positions fall under SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Housekeeping Laundry Worker Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Housekeeping Laundry Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Room Cleaner Prevailing Wage

Room Cleaner is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 37-2012.00 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$13.00/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$30K
$14.19/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$32K
$15.39/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$34K
$16.51/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?

DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employer surveys across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 37-2012, those survey results are divided into four wage levels based on experience and responsibility. Employers sponsoring a worker must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and supervision requirements.

What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

Level 1 covers entry-level, closely supervised work. Level 2 applies to qualified workers performing standard duties with limited supervision and is the most common filing level for housekeeping roles. Level 3 covers experienced workers with significant independence, and Level 4 applies to senior or lead positions. The level is determined by the job duties and supervision structure described in the LCA, not by your years of experience alone. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm the level assigned matches the role you were offered.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same housekeeping role differ so much between cities?

DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the numbers. High-cost metros like San Jose and Honolulu show floors that are substantially higher than lower-cost regions or U.S. territories. Critically, the worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, not where your employer is headquartered. A worker placed at a Hawaii resort is covered by Hawaii's survey data, regardless of where the management company is based.

What happens if a sponsoring employer offers a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor?

An LCA certified at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage level does not satisfy DOL requirements, and USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition that relies on it. The employer must amend the LCA to reflect a compliant wage before the petition can proceed. For green card cases, a below-floor wage offer can cause PERM denial. Candidates should request a copy of the certified LCA to verify the wage independently before resigning from a current position.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners position in a specific U.S. city?

The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current four-level prevailing wages for SOC 37-2012 by metro area. Enter your worksite city, select the occupation, and the tool returns all four level wages. To see which employers have a history of sponsoring housekeeping roles in a given location, Migrate Mate filters sponsored listings by role and location so you can identify active sponsors before applying.

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