Cleanliness is one of the things that is often taken for granted in everyday life. Behind well-maintained apartments, clean offices, and shiny shop windows stand countless cleaners who ensure that rooms remain pleasant and hygienic every day. Their work is indispensable and deserves recognition.

In recent years, the cleaning industry has changed a lot. More and more people are booking professional home support, while companies are relying on reliable cleaning teams. At the same time, many are interested in the question: What is the hourly wage of a cleaner in Germany?

The answer is not the same for everyone. Earnings depend on several factors, such as the place of work, experience, and type of employment. Self-employed cleaners calculate their prices differently from employees, and wages also differ between cities such as Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg.

In this article, you will learn:

How the hourly wage for a cleaner in Germany is determined
Which legal regulations apply
and what is considered a fair wage.

The aim is to show a clear and realistic picture of how much cleaners can actually earn and what the differences are between private, self-employed, and employed activities.

What is a good hourly wage for a cleaner?

Anyone who works as a cleaner in Germany wants to be paid fairly. But what actually counts as a good hourly wage for a cleaner? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as earnings depend heavily on the type of job, experience, and location. Nevertheless, averages and guidelines can be provided to guide you:

The statutory minimum wage is currently €12.41 per hour.
In building cleaning, an industry collective agreement also applies, which is usually slightly higher.
There are different wage levels for interior cleaning, glass cleaning, or specialized cleaning.
In 2025, cleaners employed under collective agreements will earn an average of between €13 and €22 per hour, depending on their area of responsibility.

The following overview shows typical hourly wages in the industry:

Work	Hourly Wage	Employment type	Note
Private domestic help	€14 – €22	Self-employed / mini-job	No tariff binding
Interior cleaning	€13 – €16	Employed	Maintenance or basic cleaning
Glass or facade cleaning	€16 – €22	Employed	Requires specialized knowledge
Office or property cleaning	€14 – €18	Employed	Common shift work
Self-employed cleaner	€20 – €30	Freelance	Price including material and insurance

In the private sector, wages are often negotiable. Those who work independently can charge higher hourly rates, but must bear their own costs, such as insurance, taxes, and travel (more on this later).

A fair hourly wage for a cleaner is therefore usually between €15 and €25.

How much does a cleaner get per hour (private vs. employed)?

How much cleaners actually earn depends heavily on their employment relationship. The difference between an employed and a self-employed cleaner is evident not only in hourly wages, but also in insurance, taxes, and flexibility.

Employees cleaning staff

Salaried cleaners usually work for a cleaning company or through a service company. They receive a fixed gross wage of between €13 and €17 per hour, depending on experience, collective agreement, and area of responsibility.

After deducting taxes and social security contributions, approximately €10 to €12 remains net. There are reliable framework conditions for this:

Fixed employment contract and regulated working hours
Paid leave and continued payment of wages in the event of illness
Insurance coverage through the employer
Regular incomes and predictable security

Self-employed cleaners

Self-employed cleaners work independently and set their own prices. In practice, these are usually between €20 and €30 per hour, depending on the city, experience, and type of cleaning. However, the higher amount is slightly misleading, as self-employed people cover all costs themselves:

Contributions to health and liability insurance
Material costs and travel times
Reserves for taxes and retirement provision

Realistically, after deducting these items, €14 to €20 net per hour remains. In return, self-employed people enjoy greater freedom in choosing contracts and can customize their workload.

In addition, self-employed cleaners have the opportunity to work with providers such as Helpling. For direct bookings, the price is agreed individually, often without an invoice or insurance. Platforms, on the other hand, protect all cleanings, and payment is officially based on a tax-compliant invoice.

This has clear advantages:

20% of the costs can be deducted from tax according to § 35a EStG
Up to €4,000 a year can be saved
Each booking is insured and transparently documented

And how much does cleaning on Helpling cost? This depends on several factors, such as the size of your apartment or the city.

Factors influencing hourly wages

How much cleaners ultimately earn depends on several factors. In addition to the type of job, qualifications, working hours, and additional services also play an important role.

1. Experience and qualification

Certificates or training increase the chances of better pay
Good knowledge of German and specializations (e.g., window, carpet, or end-of-tenancy cleaning) has a positive impact on wages

2. Working hours

Surcharges for night, weekend, and holiday work range from 25% to 100%
Regular daily assignments are usually paid lower, but more predictable

3. Form of employment

Full-time employees with collective bargaining agreements earn less per hour but receive vacation, insurance, and continued payment of wages
Self-employed persons set their prices freely, but bear all costs themselves

4. Additional services

Some employers cover travel expenses or work clothes
Training and further training opportunities offer higher long-term income opportunities

Regional differences in hourly wages

Another important factor influencing a cleaner’s hourly wages is their region. Because the same amount is not paid everywhere in Germany. Place of residence plays a crucial role, as the cost of living and demand vary greatly. Prices are noticeably higher in large cities than in rural areas.

Average student wage cleaner 2025:

Munich: €25–€30
Hamburg: €22–€28
Berlin: €18–€25
Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt: €20–€27
Rural regions: mostly €3–€5

Reasons for the differences:

Higher cost of living in big cities
Greater demand for cleaning services
Regional tariff bindings and local competition

In short, the larger the city, the higher the chances of well-paid jobs, but also the costs of rent, transport, and living expenses. For self-employed domestic helpers, it is therefore worthwhile to carefully weigh the earning potential and expenses.

How much does a cleaning company earn per hour?

In addition to private cleaners, professional cleaning companies also play an important role in the market. They often take on larger contracts, such as in offices, practices, or public buildings. At first glance, the hourly rates seem significantly higher, but there is a complex calculation behind the price.

Cleaning companies calculate their prices in such a way that, in addition to the actual wages of the cleaning staff, they also cover all operational costs.

These include:

Wages and social security contributions of employees
Insurance, such as liability and accident insurance
Travel times and material costs
Administrative burden, accounting, and customer service
Operating costs such as vehicles, equipment, and cleaning products

These factors add up to the typical market prices paid by customers.

Typical hourly rates of professional providers:

Private customer prices: between €25 and €35 per hour
Commercial cleaning: between €30 and €40 per hour

The actual hourly wage of the cleaner is usually between €13 and €18, while the rest is due to operating costs and the company’s profits.

The difference between private and commercial contracts is clear:

Private customers who book through platforms like Helpling typically pay the higher rate per hour, but receive insurance coverage, vetted cleaners, and tax-compliant bills.
Company orders are often billed under service contracts that include additional services such as regular quality controls, material provision, and property management.

Summary

Cleaning is more than just routine. It ensures that apartments, offices, and public spaces remain well-maintained and that we can feel comfortable. However, how much a cleaner earns depends on several factors: city, experience and form of employment.

In 2025, the average hourly wage will be between €15 and €25. Collective bargaining employees usually earn €13 to €18, while experienced self-employed people earn up to €30 per hour. In large cities like Munich or Hamburg, wages are slightly higher because the cost of living is also rising.

Those who work through audited platforms such as Helpling also benefit from insurance coverage, transparent pricing, and tax advantages. These framework conditions create safety for cleaning staff as well as for clients.

In short, fair pay, clear structures, and appreciation make the profession more attractive today than ever before. Cleaners at Helpling demonstrate day after day that professional cleanliness and trust go hand in hand.

A Cleaner’s Hourly Wages: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What can a cleaner do in 2 hours?

An experienced cleaner can primarily do a basic cleaning of a 2-room apartment in two hours. This includes vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom.

Depending on the degree of contamination and organization, approximately 40 to 60 square meters can be thoroughly cleaned. How to save time and costs:

Tidy up rooms beforehand
Provide cleaning products and utensils
Communicate priorities clearly (e.g. B. Kitchen first, then bathroom)

Good preparation allows the cleaner to concentrate fully on the work.

How do wages differ by city and region?

Pay varies greatly by region. Hourly wages are higher in large cities as the cost of living and demand rise. In rural areas, prices are usually slightly lower.

Average hourly wages 2025:

Munich: €25–€30
Hamburg: €22–€28
Berlin: 18–25 €
Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt: €20–€27
Rural regions: mostly €3–€5 lower

The differences arise from regional tariff bindings, competition, and the cost of living.

What is a cleaner’s monthly net salary?

Monthly income depends heavily on the form of employment.

Example calculation:

Salaried cleaner (40 hours/week, €14.50/h): about €2,320 gross, around €1,650 net (tax class I).
Self-employed cleaner (€25/h, 120 hrs/month): about 3,000 € turnover, after deduction of taxes and fixed costs around €2,200 net.

The difference shows that self-employed people can earn more, but have to bear their own costs such as insurance, tax, and materials.

How will wages develop in the future?

Wages for cleaners are expected to continue to rise in the coming years.

Reasons for this are:

Shortage of skilled workers in the cleaning industry
Higher cost of living
Ongoing collective bargaining with a focus on starting salaries and further training

Digital platforms such as Helpling or Tiger Facility Services also offer new opportunities for cleaners: flexible working hours, fair pay, and audited contracts with insurance coverage.

What is a fair hourly wage for a cleaner?

A fair hourly wage in Germany in 2025 is between €15 and €25. Cleaners employed on a collective agreement usually earn €13 to €18, while self-employed professionals with experience can earn up to €30. It is important that wages reflect not only effort but also qualifications, reliability, and regional differences.