Housekeepers in nursing home settings take care of the routine cleaning jobs that keep the facility neat and tidy. They change linens, wash towels, clean restrooms and sweep floors. They do not have to clean up patient accidents -- that's the nursing assistant's job. Generally only a high school diploma or equivalent is required, though employees should be hard-working and dependable. Job opportunities are expected to grow more slowly than in other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

National Average Salary

The U.S. average pay for housekeepers in general, including those who work in nursing homes, was $10.17 an hour in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay ranged from $7.68 to $14.19 an hour.

Nursing Homes

Housekeepers who worked specifically in nursing homes earned $9.97 an hour on average in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay rates varied from $7.69 an hour to $11.13 an hour.

State Averages

In 2009, housekeepers in all settings, including nursing homes, earned $8.68 an hour on average in Alabama, and those in Florida earned an average of $9.33 an hour. The average housekeeping pay in New York was $13.79 an hour, while in the District of Columbia it was $14.44 an hour.

Highest-Paying Cities

In addition to the District of Columbia, some of the highest-paying cities in 2009 for housekeepers in all settings, including nursing homes, were San Francisco, $14.43 an hour; Boston, $13.43 an hour; and New York City, $15.61 an hour.