What Do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Do?
Job Description: 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.
Daily Life Of a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
- Match sample colors, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and types, construction, conditions, and colors of articles.
- Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
- Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.
- Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
- Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.
- Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
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What a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Types of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
- Taker Off
- Box Storage Worker
- Extracting Machine Operator
- Collar Starcher
- Hanger
Are There Job Opportunities for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers?
In the United States, there were 220,100 jobs for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker. There will be an estimated 29,500 positions for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker per year.

The states with the most job growth for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker are Utah, Colorado, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Missouri, or Georgia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers make between $18,120 and $32,530 a year.

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers who work in District of Columbia, Hawaii, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $21,960 |
Alaska | $30,340 |
Arizona | $27,600 |
Arkansas | $21,500 |
California | $28,600 |
Colorado | $25,330 |
Connecticut | $26,850 |
Delaware | $23,870 |
District of Columbia | $36,870 |
Florida | $22,740 |
Georgia | $21,850 |
Hawaii | $31,870 |
Idaho | $22,650 |
Illinois | $24,140 |
Indiana | $23,100 |
Iowa | $24,510 |
Kansas | $22,450 |
Kentucky | $21,650 |
Louisiana | $22,690 |
Maine | $25,490 |
Maryland | $23,920 |
Massachusetts | $27,820 |
Michigan | $24,770 |
Minnesota | $28,180 |
Mississippi | $20,210 |
Missouri | $21,920 |
Montana | $24,790 |
Nebraska | $25,460 |
Nevada | $24,750 |
New Hampshire | $24,070 |
New Jersey | $23,820 |
New Mexico | $21,560 |
New York | $26,610 |
North Carolina | $22,020 |
North Dakota | $27,600 |
Ohio | $23,030 |
Oklahoma | $21,020 |
Oregon | $27,520 |
Pennsylvania | $24,240 |
Rhode Island | $28,090 |
South Carolina | $22,640 |
South Dakota | $23,570 |
Tennessee | $21,540 |
Texas | $23,400 |
Utah | $24,720 |
Vermont | $24,790 |
Virginia | $22,280 |
Washington | $28,910 |
West Virginia | $24,090 |
Wisconsin | $24,520 |
Wyoming | $23,940 |
What Tools do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Windows
Becoming a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
What education is needed to be a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers?

Below are examples of industries where Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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