Production
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
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.
Median pay
$34,890
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
28,200
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers: 2% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
- Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
- Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
- 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.
- Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
- Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
- Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
Also called: Dry Cleaner · Industrial Laundry Attendant · Laundry Aide · Laundry Assistant · Laundry Attendant · Laundry Housekeeper · Laundry Technician (Laundry Tech) · Laundry Worker
Outlook and AI
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers held 204,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 213,700 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Sewing machine operator
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Painting, coating, and decorating workers
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Machine feeders and offbearers
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Cutters and trimmers, hand
- Laundry and dry-cleaning workers vs. Packers and packagers, hand