First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers

Career Overview

Directly supervise and coordinate work activities of cleaning personnel in hotels, hospitals, offices, and other establishments.

Also Known As

  • Environmental Services Supervisor (EVS)
  • Executive Housekeeper
  • Housekeeping Supervisor
  • Maintenance Supervisor

Alternate Job Titles

  • Building Cleaning Supervisor
  • Building Services Supervisor
  • Building Superintendent
  • Building Supervisor
  • Buildings and Grounds Supervisor
  • Butler
  • Cleaning Staff Supervisor
  • Cleaning Supervisor
  • Custodial Supervisor
  • Custodian Supervisor
  • Environmental Services Custodial Manager
  • Environmental Services Department Manager
  • Environmental Services Supervisor (EVS)
  • Executive Housekeeper
  • Home Restoration Service Supervisor

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Supervise in-house services, such as laundries, maintenance and repair, dry cleaning, or valet services.
  • Select the most suitable cleaning materials for different types of linens, furniture, flooring, and surfaces.
  • Advise managers, desk clerks, or admitting personnel of rooms ready for occupancy.
  • Inspect work performed to ensure that it meets specifications and established standards.
  • Perform or assist with cleaning duties as necessary.
  • Plan and prepare employee work schedules.
  • Establish and implement operational standards and procedures for the departments supervised.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Expression
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Speech Recognition
  • Near Vision
  • Information Ordering
  • Speech Clarity
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Category Flexibility
  • Written Expression

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Leadership Orientation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Independence
  • Support
  • Working Conditions
  • Achievement
  • Relationships

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Tools & Equipment

  • All-terrain vacuums
  • Auto scrubbers
  • Building alarm systems
  • Carpet shampooers
  • Carpet steamers
  • Cleaning scrapers
  • Commercial automatic floor scrubbers
  • Desktop computers
  • Dust masks
  • Dust mops
  • Flatwork ironers
  • Floor burnishers
  • Floor polishing machines
  • Floor scrubbing machines
  • Industrial clothes dryers

Work Environment

  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  • E-Mail
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Telephone Conversations

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$34,390
Median$47,520
Top Earners (90th percentile)$74,190

Workers Employed Nationally: 174,660

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:


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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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