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What Does it Take to Be a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?
Career 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.
Life As a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
- Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.
- Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
- Test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics.
- Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
- Immerse articles in bleaching baths to strip colors.
- Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
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Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Skills
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Other Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Job Titles
- Rug Sizer
- Sizer
- Washerette Machine Operator
- Vault Custodian
- Stamper
What Kind of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 220,100 jobs for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker. The BLS estimates 29,500 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Average Salary
The salary for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers ranges between about $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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in different U.S. states.
| 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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Windows
How to Become a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
Are there Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker?
Where Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.