Is $20 an hour good for house cleaning?
As pay for a cleaner, yes: $20 an hour is above Florida's $15 minimum wage (from September 30, 2026) and close to the national average house cleaner wage of about $21. As a price you pay, it's low: independent cleaners in West Palm Beach start around $22 an hour, and cleaning companies charge about $45 to $65 per cleaner per hour, because that covers insurance, payroll taxes, supplies and travel that $20 can't.
The short answer, three ways
| Situation | Typical rate | Is $20/hr good? |
|---|---|---|
| Pay for a cleaner (employee) | Florida minimum $15; U.S. average about $21 | Yes: fair to good pay |
| Paying an independent cleaner directly | About $22–$30/hr in West Palm Beach | Low end of the local market |
| Paying a cleaning company | $45–$65 per cleaner per hour | Far below market |
$20 an hour as pay for a cleaner
Florida's minimum wage reached $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026. Published salary data puts the average U.S. house cleaner at about $21 an hour, with most between about $14 and $32 depending on experience and location. So $20 an hour is a fair wage in Palm Beach County, and good pay for someone starting out.
Note the difference between a wage and a rate: an employee earning $20 an hour doesn't pay for their own supplies, insurance or travel. An independent cleaner charging $20 an hour does, which is why independents usually charge more.
$20 an hour as a price you pay
If someone offers to clean your home for $20 an hour, you're paying near the bottom of the West Palm Beach market. That can be a good deal from a trusted person you know. It can also mean:
- No liability insurance if something is damaged
- No workers' compensation if they're hurt in your home
- You supply all the products and equipment
- No backup if they're sick or stop showing up
- No background check
- Possible tax obligations for you as a household employer
What a company's hourly price covers
When a cleaning company charges $45 to $65 an hour, the cleaner's pay is only part of it. Here is what the rest of the price typically covers (a general industry breakdown, not any one company's books):
| Cost | Why it's there |
|---|---|
| Cleaner's wage | At or above Florida's $15 minimum; often $16–$22 |
| Payroll taxes | Employer share of Social Security, Medicare and unemployment tax |
| Insurance | General liability and workers' compensation |
| Supplies and equipment | Products, cloths, vacuums and mops |
| Travel | Paid drive time between homes, fuel and parking |
| Hiring and training | Background checks, onboarding and quality checks |
| Scheduling and support | Booking, reminders, rescheduling and backup cleaners |
Hiring a cleaner directly at $20 an hour
If you pay a cleaner directly, a few rules apply. This is general information, not tax or legal advice:
- Household employer taxes. In 2026, paying one household worker $3,000 or more in cash wages in a year generally means you owe Social Security and Medicare taxes on those wages, unless they run their own business.
- Minimum wage. Employees in Florida must earn at least $15.00 an hour from September 30, 2026.
- Insurance. Check whether your homeowner's policy covers a worker injured in your home.
- Agreement. Write down the tasks, the schedule, the rate and who supplies products.
Which option is right for you?
An independent cleaner can be right if…
- you know them or have a strong referral
- you're comfortable supplying products
- you can handle the tax side, if it applies
- you have flexibility when they're unavailable
A cleaning company is right if…
- you want insured, background-checked cleaners
- you want supplies included and a fixed price
- you need a backup when your cleaner is out
- you want one place to call if something isn't right
Our prices are flat by home size, not hourly. A 2-bedroom standard clean is $185 one-time or $155 every two weeks, supplies included. See house cleaning cost in West Palm Beach and how much a maid costs for 3 hours. We respond within 2 hours during business hours.