Window cleaner
Make people's homes and businesses more pleasant by cleaning their windows, doors and other glass surfaces.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£308
Entry level
£442
Experienced
Monthly
£1,333
Entry level
£1,917
Experienced
Yearly
£16,000
Entry level
£23,000
Experienced
2,600
people are currently employed
Low growth
100 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would work at homes and businesses, cleaning windows, doors and other glass surfaces to create a pleasant environment for the people who live or work there.
You could work on different types of buildings, including houses, schools, offices, shops and hospitals.
You would:
Mix cleaning chemicals and detergents
Use ladders to clean lower windows
Wash windows at a higher level using water-fed poles
Clean windows on high buildings like tower blocks using a safety harness
Collect and record payments
Safely store equipment like ladders and transport it between jobs
If you are self-employed, you would also:
Market your cleaning services
Plan your own work schedule
Do paperwork and keep accounts (or find someone to do this for you)
Come up with prices and persuade customers to pay on time
You’d need to be able to work quickly and efficiently, and have a good awareness of health and safety.
A good head for heights is essential. You might sometimes be asked to do different types of work at heights, such as clearing gutters and cleaning paintwork or window frames.
Hours
Environment
Travel
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- reliable
- time management
- managing resources
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- respecting
- cooperating
- persevering
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
You do not need formal qualifications for this job but a good standard of English and Maths is helpful.
Qualifications and experience that show customer service skills and practical skills, such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5).
The SQA Enterprise and Employability Award (SCQF level 4/5) may also be of value as many window cleaners are self-employed.
While working you can study for Scottish Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Support Services (SVQ level 2). This includes units in working safely at heights and using a water-fed pole system to clean windows and facades.
A driving licence is useful and may be essential for some roles.
Some local authorities may need you to apply for a licence before you can legally work as a window cleaner. This licence has to be renewed after a period of time, normally three years.
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