SOC 6231 Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations

Housekeepers and related occupations Salary

Median salary £16,618 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £17,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For housekeepers and related occupations, £25,335 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -35% versus the national average. Experienced housekeepers and related occupations (top 25%) earn over £23,067.

About this role

Housekeepers and related occupations maintain cleanliness, order and comfort in hotels, private households, hospitals and other residential settings. They manage cleaning schedules, laundry, room preparation and housekeeping team supervision.

Key responsibilities

Managing room cleaning and preparation to required standards
Supervising housekeeping staff and allocating work
Managing laundry, linen stocks and cleaning supplies
Inspecting rooms and public areas for cleanliness and presentation
Responding to guest or resident requests and complaints

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are always required, though hospitality management or housekeeping qualifications are valued. BICSc (British Institute of Cleaning Science) provides professional standards. Experience in hotel or institutional housekeeping is essential for supervisory roles.

Career outlook

Steady demand in hospitality and healthcare. Executive housekeepers in premium hotels command good salaries. Post-pandemic hygiene standards have elevated the profession's profile.

Key skills

Cleaning standards Team supervision Stock management Attention to detail Guest service

Common industries

Hotels
Private households
Hospitals
Residential care homes
Serviced apartments

Data coverage

SOC code 6231

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 40,000

Median Salary

£16,618

Mean Salary

£17,092

Jobs (000s)

40k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £10,373Median: £16,618P75: £23,067

P10: £6kP25: £10kMedian: £17kP75: £23kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£5,784

0-2 years

Mid Level

£10,373

3-7 years

Senior

£23,067

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +299% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +39.2%Real growth: +0.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£16,618

Full-time Only

£25,335

Full-time premium: +£8,717

Housekeepers and related occupations salary: common questions

How much do housekeepers and related occupations earn in the UK?

Housekeepers and related occupations earn a median of £25,335 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £10,373 and £23,067.

Is £25,335 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for housekeepers and related occupations?

Entry-level housekeepers and related occupations typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £10,373, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £5,784.

Have housekeepers and related occupations salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median housekeepers and related occupations pay has risen from £16,720 to £25,335 — +52% in cash terms, or +10% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).