Private Household Worker

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Work Tasks

• Clean, do laundry, dust, polish, sweep, vacuum, and mop floors in people's houses
• Take care of children or elderly people and feed pets
• Wash dishes, make beds, wash clothes, and wash windows
• Plan and cook meals, buy groceries, and run other errands
• Work in other people's homes, usually in a big city or the suburbs
• Work with mops, brooms, vacuums, cleaning tools, cleaners, waxes, polishes, laundry, kitchen items, and food

Salary, Size & Growth

• $26,000 average per year ($12.50 per hour)
• A large occupation (866,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow slowly (0.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
• Skills/Courses: High school or vocational school home economics courses are helpful, as are courses in child development, first aid, and nursing.