General Housekeeper
Cleans property and common areas — sweeping, mopping and wiping — and keeps the workplace clean and tidy.
Overview
A Housekeeper is responsible for cleaning the property and common areas by sweeping, mopping, wiping etc. They have to complete all assigned housekeeping tasks on time and maintain cleanliness and tidiness at the workplace. Correct procedures for housekeeping have to be followed always.
Where they work
- Hotels and motels
- Restaurants
- Cruise liners
Work environment
It is physical work. Generally you will work 5/6 days a week and around 10/12 hours per day. You will have to work in shifts and sometimes overtime work will be necessary.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are physically fit
- You are aware of basic safety and hygiene issues
- You have good communication skills
- You are able to follow instructions
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment. NSQF course levels, entry requirements and availability change — verify with the training provider.
- 1Minimum qualification: after completion of class 8, with a minimum age of 14, you can enrol for a National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 3 course for General Housekeeper.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Hotel Management Institutes. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying.
Government institutes
- Institute of Hotel Management (across different centres of India)
- Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
- Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand
- Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana
- Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, Karnataka
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka
- Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune, Maharashtra
- Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, New Delhi
- Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Housekeeping Aide
- 2Housekeeping Assistant
- 3Housekeeping Staff
- 4Housekeeper Process Supervisor
Expected income
₹8,000 – ₹16,000 per month
The figures are indicative and subject to change. The short link to the source contains a character that cannot be read with certainty (O or 0), so it is not shown.
Related careers to explore
Housekeeping Attendant (Manual Cleaning)
Manually cleans a property's floors, surfaces, furniture and fixtures — sweeping, scrubbing, mopping, wiping and disposing of waste.
Room Attendant
Monitors and maintains cleanliness in hotel and guest-house rooms, identifies housekeeping needs and completes assigned housekeeping tasks.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Faheem Sultana — She hails from Bapu Nagar, Serilingampally. She worked as a domestic help in three to four households, with salaries ranging from INR 2,000 to 3,000 per month in total. She undertook a PMKVY training programme in the General Housekeeper course, covering cleaning, mopping, dusting and the use of cleaning agents through practical work, along with safety, hygiene and life skills. After the training she received a certificate, and using it she got a job in the DLF Company for which she started receiving a salary of INR 10,000 per month. Though she took the training while still working, the training was very beneficial.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 931 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Institute names carry spelling errors on the card ('diffrent centers', 'Uttrakhand', 'Banarsidas Chandiwala Instiue of Hotel Management and Catering Technoloy', 'Welcome Graduate School of Hotel Administration', 'Oberoi Center of Learning and Devlopment'), corrected here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.