The Office for National Statistics put the typical full-time weekly wage at £811.20 in April 2026, against £766.60 twelve months before, in provisional results from its annual earnings survey[1]. The survey looks at the pay period that contained April 22, 2026[1]. For UK hotels and the contractors that clean them, the more relevant numbers sit lower in the pay distribution.
What the occupation and industry figures show
Elementary occupations, a broad group that includes many cleaning roles but is far from limited to hotels, saw pay rise 4.7%, a slower pace than most other groups[1]. The caring, leisure and other service group posted a 5.4% gain in typical gross weekly pay[1]. Elementary roles also carried the largest share of low-paid jobs among occupation groups, at 11.5%[2]. By industry, accommodation and food services topped the low pay table at 16.3%[2].
The ONS drew its low pay line at £12.67 an hour in April 2026, when the median hourly figure was £19.00[2]. The National Living Wage for workers 21 and older was £12.71 at that time[2]. Across all jobs, the low pay share edged up to 2.8% from 2.6%[2]. The ONS estimates that about 346,000 jobs, 1.1% of all jobs, were paid under the minimum wage rates, but it stresses that this estimate does not measure non-compliance[2].
Regional gaps and part-time work
London led the regions with 8.2% annual growth in full-time median weekly pay[1]. The East Midlands, at 4.0%, and the North West, at 4.1%, grew least[1]. Part-time roles accounted for 29.0% of all employee jobs this year, compared with 27.0% a year before[1]. For full-time staff, the median hourly rate without overtime stood at £20.81[1].
How to read the numbers
These are economy-wide or broad-group figures, not a survey of room attendants or housekeeping supervisors. Elementary occupations and the accommodation and food industry also include kitchen, bar and many other roles. The 2026 estimates are provisional and may be revised. They give context for pay reviews and contract pricing in the UK, not a rate for any single role. Check specific pay decisions with your HR or legal advisor.
ARPCLEAN take
What does this mean for housekeeping?
For cleaning contractors
- Regional context: note that full-time pay growth ranged from 4.0% in the East Midlands to 8.2% in London when you look at labor costs by site.
- Wage floor: the National Living Wage for workers 21 and older was £12.71 in April 2026; check pay rates with your advisor.
For hotels
- Sector picture: accommodation and food services had a 16.3% low pay share, the highest of any industry in the ONS data.
- Broad groups: treat occupation figures as context only, since they cover far more than housekeeping staff.
Staff, minutes per room and cost per room in one calculation.
Calculate cost per room →Sources
- 1Employee earnings in the UK: 2026Office for National Statistics ·
- 2Low and high pay in the UK: 2026Office for National Statistics ·
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About this story
ARPCLEAN Editorial
Archie Grey is the pen name of the ARPCLEAN editorial team for English-language news. This story was prepared with AI assistance, checked against the linked sources and approved by our editors before publication. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected].
No corrections since publication.
