How much does a house cleaner make in Illinois?
In Illinois, maids and housekeeping cleaners earned an average of $18.73 an hour in May 2025, and the median was $17.49 an hour, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
$18.73
$17.49
$17.83
$0.90 more an hour
$38,958
By the hour, the week and the year in Illinois
At 40 hours a week, the average of $18.73 an hour comes to $749.20 a week. Over the 2,080-hour year the BLS uses for its annual figures, it comes to $38,958 a year, and the median of $17.49 to $36,379 a year.
In Illinois, the average is $1.24 above the median (7.1%): a smaller group of higher wages pulls the average up, and half of maids and housekeeping cleaners earn $17.49 an hour or less.
How does Illinois compare?
The average in Illinois is $0.90 above the national average of $17.83 (5.0% more), about $1,872 more a year at 2,080 hours.
By average wage, Illinois ranks 14 of 51 states and DC with data for this trade (1 pays the most). The national median is $17.07 an hour.
Illinois and its Census division, East North Central
Of the 5 states of the division with data for this trade, Illinois pays the highest average, $18.73; next comes Wisconsin with $17.13.
| State | Average per hour | Median per hour | Against Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $18.73 | $17.49 | |
| Wisconsin | $17.13 | $17.08 | -$1.60 |
| Michigan | $16.36 | $16.66 | -$2.37 |
| Indiana | $15.88 | $15.11 | -$2.85 |
| Ohio | $15.68 | $15.47 | -$3.05 |
This trade and the others in Illinois
Of the 5 trades this site prices, maids and housekeeping cleaners rank 5 of the 5 by average wage in Illinois. Among them, the average runs from $18.73 (Cleaning) to $37.40 (Concrete).
| Trade | Average per hour | Median per hour | Against cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | $37.40 | $37.58 | +$18.67 |
| Drywall | $34.95 | $30.38 | +$16.22 |
| Painting | $33.48 | $29.45 | +$14.75 |
| Landscaping | $21.54 | $21.05 | +$2.81 |
| Cleaning | $18.73 | $17.49 |
Against the minimum wage in Illinois
The minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 an hour for most employers. The median of maids and housekeeping cleaners, $17.49, is $2.49 above it, 16.6% more than the minimum. Over 2,080 hours the minimum comes to $31,200 a year.
From wage to rate
This is what an employer pays an employee, not what a contractor bills. Your rate also has to cover your overhead (vehicle, insurance, tools), your profit, and the hours you cannot bill.
If you pay a helper the median wage in Illinois, $17.49 an hour, the 8 hours of the starting job of the cleaning calculator cost $139.92 in wages. With its $20.00 of materials, 10% overhead and 15% profit, the quote comes to $202.30; at the national median, $17.07, the same job comes to $198.05. A wage is only the floor: your own rate also pays your taxes, your unbilled hours and your business.