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House cleaning workers

How to become a House Cleaner

Also called: Domestic cleaner, Rental property cleaner

Cleans houses and household fixtures and fittings, mainly in empty or occupied apartments and detached houses.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. After joining, you learn the basic knowledge and skills of house cleaning and build experience on the job. You drive to customers' homes, so a standard car licence is an advantage. A related qualification is the 'house cleaning skills' certificate under the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Basic knowledge of detergent ingredients and how to use them is important. People with knowledge and skills in related fields such as electricity and chemistry are also in demand. You often work inside customers' homes, so you need to be trustworthy and well mannered and communicate smoothly with customers.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a House Cleaner?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. After joining, you learn the basic knowledge and skills of house cleaning and build experience on the job. You drive to customers' homes, so a standard car licence is an advantage. A related qualification is the 'house cleaning skills' certificate under the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Basic knowledge of detergent ingredients and how to use them is important. People with knowledge and skills in related fields such as electricity and chemistry are also in demand. You often work inside customers' homes, so you need to be trustworthy and well mannered and communicate smoothly with customers.

How much does a House Cleaner earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,986,000 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Cleaners (except buildings) and waste workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a House Cleaner?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 14% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a House Cleaner?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026