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Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Illinois

Thinking about a career as a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Illinois? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Make in Illinois?

The laundry and dry-cleaning workers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $35,140 per year (or about $16.90/hour).Pay can range from $29,760 at the 10th percentile to $42,650 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$29,760	$14.31
25th percentile	$31,010	$14.91
Median (50th)	$35,140	$16.90
75th percentile	$37,170	$17.87
90th percentile	$42,650	$20.51

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Illinois compared to the national average — is 1.02.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, laundry and dry-cleaning workers earn a median of $66,423 per year ($31.93/hour), lower than the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 858,171 laundry and dry-cleaning workers across the United States. In Illinois alone, approximately 7,830 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 2,470 laundry and dry-cleaning workers.

Top Illinois Metros for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

The largest metro-area employers of laundry and dry-cleaning workers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	5,920	$35,780
Rockford, IL	300	$35,590
Peoria, IL	200	$34,070
Springfield, IL	170	$32,940
Champaign-Urbana, IL	130	$33,370
Bloomington, IL	110	$35,860
Kankakee, IL	80	$34,520
Decatur, IL	70	$32,640

Top States for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Employment

These states have the highest employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers work.

State	Number Employed
California	22,630
Texas	16,250
Florida	13,940
New York	13,270
Illinois	7,830
Ohio	6,670
Pennsylvania	6,000
Michigan	5,700
Tennessee	5,650
North Carolina	5,530
New Jersey	5,490
Virginia	4,900
Georgia	4,880
Nevada	4,180
Indiana	4,070
Missouri	4,030
Arizona	3,900
Maryland	3,890
Washington	3,680
Massachusetts	3,680

Highest-Paying States for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

These states pay the most for laundry and dry-cleaning workers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$39,220
North Dakota	$37,710
Oregon	$37,190
District of Columbia	$37,070
Vermont	$37,030
Maine	$36,840
California	$36,740
Montana	$36,640
Minnesota	$36,560
Massachusetts	$36,310

Skills

Key laundry and dry-cleaning workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
• 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.
• Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
• Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
• Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
• Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
• Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.
• Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
• Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
• Spray steam, water, or air over spots to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise naps, or brighten colors.
• Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Training and Teaching Others
• Getting Information

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like laundry and dry-cleaning workers include:

• Dishwashers
• Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
• Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
• Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
• Sewing Machine Operators
• Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

Also Known As

Assorter, Bag Hanger, Bag Washer, Benzene Washer, Benzene Worker, Blanket Washer, Box Storage Worker, Bundle Breaker, Buttoner, Carpet Cleaner, Carpet Renovator, Classifier, Cleaner, Cleaner and Dyer, Cleaner and Presser.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-6011.00