Window Cleaner

A window cleaner removes dirt, grime, and debris from windows, glass surfaces, and facades on residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. They use manual and mechanical cleaning equipment, working at heights on ladders, scaffolding, or rope access systems to ensure glass and frames are clean and transparent. The role requires physical fitness, attention to detail, and strict adherence to safe work practices to prevent falls and other workplace injuries.

Inspect window frames and glass surfaces to identify dirt accumulation, water stains, and damage before commencing cleaning. Set up and secure ladders, scaffold towers, or portable work platforms in compliance with Safe Work Australia guidelines and site-specific requirements. Apply cleaning solutions and detergents to windows and glass using squeegees, brushes, and microfibre cloths. Remove stubborn deposits such as paint splatter, sealant residue, and mineral buildup using scrapers and specialist chemical treatments. Operate pressure washers and water-fed poles to clean high-rise windows and facades efficiently and safely. Check and maintain cleaning equipment including squeegees, extension poles, hoses, and pressure washers for function and safety. Perform rope access and abseiling work on high-rise buildings using fall arrest systems, anchor points, and personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with AS/NZS 1891 standards. Clean window frames, sills, and tracks using brushes and cleaning solutions to remove accumulated dust and debris.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll be working at heights on ladders and ropes regularly, which carries genuine fall risk even with safety gear. Your body takes a beating from repetitive squeegee work and awkward positions. Pay stays modest unless you own your own business. Weather stops work constantly. It's physically demanding in ways that get harder as you age.

Regional centres have work but it's less regular. You'll need a vehicle to travel between jobs. Most work is tied to local demand, though some larger operators work across states.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 8116, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Carry out pressure washing activities
• Clean building facade
• Clean glass surfaces
• Clean particular areas manually
• Clean public furniture
• Cleaning industry health and safety measures
• Complaint Handling
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Delivery Scheduling
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Team Collaboration

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026