Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers earn a median of $34,890 per year ($16.78/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.3% through 2035, with about 28,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 51-6011
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $34,890a year, or $16.78/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $27KTop 10% $43K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.3%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 28,200204,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025204.9K
- Projected 2035213.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 204.9K Projected 2035 213.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Dry Cleaner, Industrial Laundry Attendant, Laundry Aide, Laundry Assistant, Laundry Attendant, Laundry Housekeeper.
Pay
How much do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers make?
Every laundry and dry-cleaning worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$34,890
Middle half earn $30,360 to $37,560
- 10th
- $27,440
- 25th
- $30,360
- 75th
- $37,560
- 90th
- $43,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $27,440 |
| 25th | $30,360 |
| Median | $34,890 |
| 75th | $37,560 |
| 90th | $43,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $34,890
- Median hourly wage
- $16.78/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $34,920
- People employed
- 198,040
Versus all US occupations
At $34,890, Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers earn 32% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,090 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 27% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $43,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $27,440, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 1% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($39,590), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $42,121 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $39,590 | $36,996 | 3,870 |
| 2Oregon | $37,800 | $36,571 | 1,890 |
| 3California | $37,790 | $34,131 | 21,940 |
| 4District of Columbia | $37,790 | $34,385 | 320 |
| 5Colorado | $37,680 | $36,564 | 3,370 |
| 6Minnesota | $37,580 | $38,105 | 3,530 |
| 7Massachusetts | $37,490 | $35,449 | 3,700 |
| 8North Dakota | $37,470 | $42,121 | 840 |
| 9Maine | $37,380 | $38,516 | 820 |
| 10Vermont | $37,300 | $38,078 | 280 |
Job outlook
Is Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | +4.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers to change 4.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 8,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 28,200 openings are projected each year, 13.8% of the 204,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker do?
Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.
Day-to-day tasks
- Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
- Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
- Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
- Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
- Start washers, dry cleaners, driers, or extractors, and turn valves or levers to regulate machine processes and the volume of soap, detergent, water, bleach, starch, and other additives.
- Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
- Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
- Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Speaking2.6
- Reading Comprehension2.5
- Active Learning2.3
- Writing2.0
- Learning Strategies1.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Speaking | 2.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.5 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Writing | 2.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 1.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Coordination2.6
- Operations Monitoring2.6
- Service Orientation2.5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4
- Quality Control Analysis2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.6 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.6 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
- Point of sale POS software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.4
- Conventional4.3
- Enterprising1.5
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.2
- Investigative1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
$35,830median a year
Most earn $27K to $48K
+3.9%No formal credential - Production
Presser, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
$35,060median a year
Most earn $27K to $43K
−15.7%No formal credential - Production
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender
$43,530median a year
Most earn $34K to $59K
+3.4%High school - Production
- Production
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Worker
$41,600median a year
Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%No formal credential - Production
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender
$38,180median a year
Most earn $30K to $48K
−12.5%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with laundry and dry-cleaning workers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$34,890
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker | $34,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker appears on
Questions
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers make?
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers earn a median of $34,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 32% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $16.78/hr. The middle half earn between $30,360 and $37,560. The top 10% earn $43,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.3% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 28,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker do?
Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. A core O*NET task: load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers the most?
The highest state medians for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers are Washington ($39,590), Oregon ($37,800), California ($37,790) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $42,121.
What personality type suits a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?
O*NET scores Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.