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Housekeeping Manager

Also advertised as: Executive Housekeeper, Head Housekeeper, Housekeeping Manager, Housekeeping Supervisor, Rooms Division Manager

Manages the cleaning and room presentation standards across a hotel.

What the job involves

Housekeeping managers lead the team responsible for cleaning and preparing guest rooms and public areas to a hotel's standard. You plan staff schedules around occupancy levels, manage linen and cleaning supply budgets and carry out room inspections. It is a demanding but rewarding management role within larger hotels.

Typical responsibilities

  • Schedule housekeeping staff around occupancy
  • Inspect rooms and public areas for standards
  • Manage linen, laundry and cleaning supply budgets
  • Recruit and train housekeeping staff
  • Liaise with maintenance on room defects

Common employers

  • Hotels
  • Serviced apartments
  • Resorts
  • Cruise lines

Pay, hours and working environment

Typical pay

£23,000 – £27,000 a year

With experience

£29,000 – £36,000 a year

Typical hours

40 hours including some weekends

Working environment

Hotel corridors and rooms, on your feet

Remote working

on_site

Demand for this work

steady

Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.

Skills and qualifications

Core skills

  • Team management
  • Attention to detail
  • Budgeting
  • Scheduling
  • Quality inspection

Transferable skills you may already have

  • Cleaning or hotel experience
  • Team supervision
  • Time management

Requirements employers ask for

  • Team management
  • Attention to detail
  • Budgeting
  • Scheduling
  • Quality inspection
  • GCSEs including maths and English
  • Hotel housekeeping experience

Useful but not essential

  • Cleaning or hotel experience
  • Team supervision
  • Time management
  • Hospitality supervisory qualification

Helpful qualifications

  • Hospitality supervisory qualification

Ways into this career

A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.

Apprenticeships and work-based routes

  • Hospitality Supervisor (Level 3)

Degree and college routes

  • Related subject: Hospitality and catering

Where this career can lead

  1. next

    Rooms Division Manager

  2. next

    Hotel Operations Manager

  3. next

    Regional Housekeeping Manager

The good parts and the hard parts

What people enjoy

  • Clear operational responsibility
  • Progression within larger hotel groups
  • Consistent daytime hours in many hotels

What people find hard

  • Physically active role with lots of walking
  • Managing high staff turnover in the team

Common questions

Do you need a degree to become a housekeeping manager?
No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
How much does a housekeeping manager earn in the UK?
Typical advertised pay runs from £23,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
What skills transfer into this career?
Skills that transfer well include Cleaning or hotel experience, Team supervision, Time management.

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  • Hotel Manager

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  • Events Coordinator

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  • Restaurant Manager

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  • Sous Chef

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Where this information comes from

  • National Careers Service
  • Institute for Apprenticeships

Last reviewed 14 September 2026.

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