jonecgroupWorking as a cleaner in Germany has become one of the most accessible and stable job options for immigrants and foreign workers looking for secure employment with visa sponsorship. The German cleaning sector is large, professional, and essential to the country’s economy. Many employers offer $19 per hour or more depending on region, experience, and work type.
For people from abroad seeking legal ways to relocate and earn a living wage, cleaning jobs in Germany provide a pathway to permanent residency, stable income, and valuable work experience in one of Europe’s strongest economies.
Germany’s labor market is facing a consistent shortage of workers in sanitation and facility maintenance. Both private households and corporate cleaning companies are hiring foreign nationals under work visa programs.
Whether you are an entry-level applicant with minimal experience or an experienced housekeeper, opportunities exist across multiple cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. Cleaners in Germany often receive hourly wages that equate to monthly earnings between $2,800 and $3,300 before tax, depending on hours worked.
This sector’s demand remains steady year-round, covering offices, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, and residential buildings. Beyond income, many employers provide additional benefits such as paid holidays, health insurance, and even accommodation support.
Working as a cleaner in Germany offers more than a paycheck, it provides stability, legal work rights, and the chance to build a new life through visa sponsorship programs aimed at filling vital labor gaps.
Entry-level Skills and Experience Required
While cleaner jobs in Germany pay well compared to other unskilled positions, employers expect candidates to have some basic competencies to perform tasks efficiently and meet safety standards. Entry-level workers may not need formal education, but reliability, punctuality, and attention to detail are essential.
Many companies offer short training periods covering cleaning chemicals, sanitation procedures, and workplace safety. For international applicants, understanding simple English or basic German significantly improves employability and increases the chance of securing visa sponsorship.
Most cleaning jobs in Germany are physically active and require stamina. Workers must be able to stand for long periods, lift light equipment, and handle repetitive tasks. Entry-level candidates are typically taught to use cleaning machinery such as vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, and disinfectant sprayers.
Employers value applicants who demonstrate consistency and willingness to learn. Many cleaning companies in Germany use structured procedures that emphasize environmental sustainability, meaning new employees receive guidance on using eco-friendly cleaning products and waste separation methods.
Experience in related sectors like hotel housekeeping, janitorial work, or facility cleaning adds value. For instance, those with prior experience in commercial cleaning may start at $20–$22 per hour.
Entry-level applicants with no prior background often begin at $17–$19 hourly, with potential salary increases after the probation period. The German government’s focus on maintaining hygiene and safety in public spaces ensures job stability in this field.
Language ability also impacts job opportunities. Employers seeking cleaners in hospitals, schools, or customer-facing roles prefer workers who can communicate basic instructions in German.
International applicants can enroll in free or low-cost language programs offered by integration centers, which can further increase their earning potential. Some cleaning agencies in Germany partner with immigration programs to assist foreign workers with visa documentation and housing arrangements.
For those coming from Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe, cleaning jobs offer a practical entry route into the German labor market. Employers often sponsor visas for reliable workers who meet the basic standards of cleanliness, discipline, and teamwork.
Once in Germany, cleaners gain access to better roles or permanent residence after working for a specified period. Entry-level does not mean low opportunity, the cleaning industry is one of the few open doors that can lead to long-term settlement and higher wages in Germany’s growing service economy.
Regions with the Highest Payment Structures
Germany’s wage levels for cleaning jobs vary significantly by region due to cost of living differences, demand, and company size. Major cities and industrial regions generally pay higher hourly wages compared to rural towns.
Workers in metropolitan areas can expect average rates between $19 and $23 per hour, while smaller cities typically offer between $16 and $19 per hour.
Berlin
As Germany’s capital and largest city, Berlin houses thousands of commercial buildings, hotels, schools, and offices that require daily cleaning. Cleaners in Berlin typically earn between $19 and $22 hourly, depending on the employer and shift.
Night cleaners and those working in hospitals or large institutions often receive higher pay due to unsocial working hours. The city’s diverse population and continuous demand for cleaning staff make it one of the easiest places for immigrants to find employment and secure visa sponsorship.
Munich
Munich, the financial and technological powerhouse of southern Germany, offers higher wages due to its high cost of living. Cleaners in Munich earn approximately $21–$25 per hour, with bonuses for reliability or bilingual skills.
Many international cleaning companies, including facilities management contractors serving global corporations, have their headquarters or branches in Munich. Employers here tend to hire foreigners with valid work visas or those applying through Germany’s Blue Card and labor shortage schemes.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s airport, banking institutions, and business complexes create massive demand for professional cleaners. Hourly wages average around $20, and full-time workers can earn up to $3,200 monthly before tax.
Cleaners in Frankfurt also enjoy structured contracts with paid leave and health insurance. For immigrants, Frankfurt is an excellent place to apply for long-term cleaning work because many agencies are accustomed to handling visa sponsorships for non-EU nationals.
Hamburg
Hamburg’s ports, logistics centers, and hospitality industry require thousands of cleaning professionals each year. Pay rates are competitive, typically around $19–$21 per hour.
The city also offers job stability, especially in warehouse cleaning, ship maintenance, and hotel sanitation. Foreigners can find opportunities through large cleaning companies operating under international labor standards.
Overall, Germany’s western and southern regions, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia, tend to pay more than eastern states. However, housing costs in these areas are also higher, which should be factored in when comparing job offers.
Despite these variations, $19 per hour remains a solid average rate across the country, making cleaning one of the most stable and rewarding unskilled occupations for immigrants seeking visa-sponsored employment.
Salary Expectations for Cleaners
Cleaners in Germany enjoy transparent and competitive pay structures. The national minimum wage as of 2025 stands around €12.41 per hour, but cleaning positions, especially those involving professional or industrial cleaning, often exceed this rate.
Employers offering $19 per hour or more typically include additional benefits like health coverage, overtime pay, and pension contributions. On average, full-time cleaners working 40 hours per week earn about $3,040 monthly, translating to an annual salary near $36,000 before taxes.
Entry-level cleaners, particularly those with little or no experience, may start at $17–$18 hourly. After three to six months, depending on performance, wages can rise to $19–$21.
Specialized cleaning roles, such as hospital sanitization, chemical handling, or window cleaning at high altitudes, can command $22–$25 per hour due to the added skill or risk involved. Night shift workers are also paid higher rates to compensate for irregular hours.
In addition to hourly wages, many employers provide paid holidays, Christmas bonuses, and performance incentives. Companies working under collective bargaining agreements follow standardized wage tables that guarantee steady annual increases.
For immigrants under visa sponsorship programs, these contracts provide security and predictable income. Employees on long-term contracts may also receive additional benefits like subsidized housing, transportation allowances, or meal subsidies.
For example, a cleaner working 45 hours weekly in Frankfurt at $20 per hour could earn nearly $3,600 monthly, while one in Munich may reach $3,800 due to regional bonuses.
Those working overtime or weekends earn up to 25% extra, pushing annual income beyond $40,000. Germany’s strong labor protection laws ensure that both local and foreign workers are paid fairly and treated equally under employment regulations.
Compared to similar positions across Europe, Germany offers one of the highest salary scales for cleaners. In addition, stable visa sponsorship programs make it easier for immigrants to transition into permanent employment.
Many who start in cleaning roles eventually move into supervisory or facility management positions after several years of consistent work. Thus, $19 per hour cleaning jobs in Germany are not just temporary labor opportunities, they represent long-term, upwardly mobile employment pathways for immigrants worldwide.
Companies Hiring Cleaners in Germany
Germany’s cleaning and facility management industry is dominated by professional companies that employ thousands of workers each year. These firms offer stable jobs, structured contracts, and in many cases, visa sponsorship for qualified foreign applicants.
The demand for cleaners remains strong in 2025 as Germany continues to modernize its cities, expand healthcare facilities, and maintain global tourism standards.
Leading Cleaning Companies in Germany
1. WISAG Facility Service Holding GmbH: WISAG is one of Germany’s largest facility management companies with operations in more than 50 cities.
The company employs over 30,000 staff and provides services in office cleaning, building maintenance, and sanitation. WISAG offers hourly wages averaging $19–$22, depending on the role and region.
For immigrants, this company is a trusted employer as it regularly hires international candidates through structured visa programs and offers training in cleaning safety standards and customer service.
2. Gegenbauer Holding SE & Co. KG: Gegenbauer is a leading provider of facility management services in Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne. It focuses on commercial, residential, and public building cleaning.
Workers typically earn between $18 and $21 per hour, with additional overtime payments. The company’s multicultural hiring policy allows foreigners from various backgrounds to apply for both part-time and full-time cleaning jobs.
3. Piepenbrock Unternehmensgruppe GmbH + Co. KG: Piepenbrock employs over 25,000 cleaners across Germany. The company is known for competitive salaries (average $19–$24 per hour) and stable contracts.
It often recruits foreign workers for hospital and industrial cleaning sectors. Piepenbrock supports employee integration by offering German language assistance and accommodation help for visa-sponsored cleaners.
4. Dorfner Gruppe: Dorfner specializes in cleaning, technical maintenance, and healthcare facility services. Cleaners employed under this firm earn around $18–$22 hourly.
The company operates in more than 30 cities and offers long-term contracts to international staff. Dorfner also assists in the visa process and helps newcomers adapt to the German workplace culture.
5. KÖTTER Cleaning Services: KÖTTER provides jobs in commercial cleaning, airport maintenance, and logistics sanitation. The firm pays between $19 and $25 per hour for full-time positions.
It’s one of the top employers offering visa sponsorship to foreign cleaners, especially in major airports and hotels.
Employment Stability and Benefits
Cleaners employed by these companies receive structured contracts that include:
- Paid leave and annual bonuses
- Health insurance and pension coverage
- Work uniforms and safety training
- Overtime and night shift allowances
For immigrants, these benefits make Germany’s cleaning industry both financially and professionally rewarding. Many of these companies have multi-year service contracts with clients, ensuring stable job continuity for cleaners.
Visa Types and Options for Cleaners
Securing legal entry into Germany for work as a cleaner involves choosing the right visa pathway. The German government actively supports immigration in sectors facing labor shortages, and cleaning is one of them.
Foreigners can legally migrate to Germany under several visa categories depending on their qualifications, employer sponsorship, and nationality.
Types of Work Visas for Cleaners
1. Employment Visa (Work Visa): The Employment Visa allows foreigners with a confirmed job offer from a German employer to enter and work legally in Germany. Cleaners with signed contracts earning $19 per hour or more can apply for this visa.
The employer must prove that the position cannot be filled locally, after which the worker receives a residence permit tied to their job. This visa is renewable and can lead to permanent residency after several years of continuous employment.
2. EU Blue Card (for Skilled Cleaners or Supervisors): Although primarily designed for highly skilled professionals, cleaning supervisors or facility managers with relevant qualifications and experience may qualify for the EU Blue Card. It provides greater mobility and the ability to switch employers within the EU after a certain period.
3. Temporary Work Visa (Seasonal Employment): This visa is common for cleaners hired for specific events or seasonal projects, such as tourism seasons or hospital cleaning during high-demand periods.
The duration typically ranges from 3 to 6 months. Some companies later extend the contract and assist workers in obtaining permanent residence.
4. Job Seeker Visa: Foreigners without a job offer can enter Germany on a Job Seeker Visa, valid for six months, to search for cleaning employment. Once a contract is secured, it can be converted into a work permit.
Visa Sponsorship Opportunities
Most cleaning companies, especially those listed under major facility service providers, offer visa sponsorship. Employers handle the paperwork and often liaise with immigration authorities to ensure legal employment. Applicants typically need:
- A valid passport
- Signed job offer or employment contract
- Health insurance proof
- Proof of accommodation
- Basic German proficiency (A1–A2 recommended)
Visa processing usually takes 4–8 weeks depending on the embassy workload. Sponsored cleaners are provided with work permits that align with their employment duration. Upon renewal or promotion, they can transition into longer-term residence permits, paving the way for permanent settlement in Germany.
Where to Find Cleaner Job Opportunities
Finding reliable cleaning jobs in Germany requires using trusted online and offline channels that connect foreign applicants with verified employers. Job seekers should target legitimate job boards, recruitment agencies, and government-endorsed employment platforms to secure genuine offers that come with visa sponsorship.
Major Online Platforms
1. Indeed Germany: Indeed lists thousands of cleaning positions across Germany daily. Candidates can search “Cleaner Jobs with Visa Sponsorship” and filter by hourly pay ($19–$25 range) and location. Many international cleaning agencies post directly on Indeed to attract foreign applicants.
2. EURES Portal (European Job Mobility Portal): Managed by the European Commission, EURES helps foreigners find legal jobs in EU countries, including Germany. Cleaners can apply for verified openings and receive guidance on visa sponsorship requirements.
3. StepStone and Monster Germany: These professional job portals feature facility management companies, cleaning contractors, and hospitality recruiters hiring cleaners for offices, hotels, and hospitals. Users can create profiles and upload resumes to be contacted by employers directly.
4. German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit): This official government platform offers verified listings for foreign workers under labor shortage categories. Cleaners applying here gain access to employers legally permitted to sponsor work visas.
Recruitment Agencies and Direct Applications
Applicants can also contact cleaning companies directly through their websites. WISAG, Piepenbrock, and Gegenbauer have dedicated recruitment pages for foreigners.
Agencies like “International Cleaning Recruitment GmbH” and “Global Work Germany” also match international workers with employers who provide visa support and accommodation.
For those currently outside Germany, it is best to apply online, attend virtual interviews, and secure an employment contract before applying for the visa. Many companies offer relocation assistance and initial housing for sponsored workers.
Local Opportunities
Once in Germany, foreigners can also find cleaning jobs through local newspapers, notice boards, or municipal job centers. Big cities like Berlin and Frankfurt have immigrant job fairs and recruitment events organized by integration offices.
Cleaners who demonstrate reliability and willingness to work flexible hours are in high demand, and job placement agencies can easily connect them with employers.
How to Apply for Cleaner Jobs as an Immigrant in Germany
Applying for cleaning jobs in Germany as an immigrant follows a structured but straightforward process. Preparation and documentation are key to improving acceptance rates and visa approval chances.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Research and Identify Job Offers
Begin by searching on trusted job platforms like Indeed, EURES, or the German Federal Employment Agency. Focus on listings that clearly mention “visa sponsorship” or “foreign worker hiring.”
Step 2: Prepare a Professional Resume (CV)
Your CV should highlight prior cleaning experience, reliability, teamwork, and basic language skills. Even without formal education, employers value hands-on experience and dedication. Mention any certifications in housekeeping, sanitation, or safety.
Step 3: Submit Online Application
Upload your resume and a brief cover letter directly to employer websites or job portals. Specify your willingness to relocate and legal eligibility to work with sponsorship.
Step 4: Attend Interviews
Many employers conduct online interviews via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Questions often focus on work habits, experience, and availability. Demonstrate flexibility and professionalism.
Step 5: Receive Employment Contract
Once selected, you will receive a written offer stating salary (around $19/hour), job location, and conditions. This contract is essential for visa application.
Step 6: Apply for the German Work Visa
Submit your visa application to the nearest German Embassy or Consulate. Include your contract, passport, proof of health insurance, and accommodation details. Pay the processing fee and attend a short interview if required.
Step 7: Relocate and Begin Work
After receiving the visa, travel to Germany and register your residence within 14 days of arrival. Attend company orientation, complete initial training, and begin your employment.
Tips for Successful Application
- Learn basic German phrases before applying to improve employer confidence.
- Verify that your employer is legally authorized to hire foreigners.
- Avoid job scams by checking if the company is listed on the German Chamber of Commerce directory.
- Keep digital and printed copies of all application documents.
Once employed, you can extend your visa after your contract period. After five years of continuous work, cleaners can apply for permanent residency in Germany, offering long-term job stability and social benefits.
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