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Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Washington

Thinking about a career as a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Washington? Here’s what the data says. 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 Washington?

For laundry and dry-cleaning workers working in Washington, the median annual wage is $39,220 per year (or roughly $18.85/hour).Earnings range from $35,110 at the 10th percentile to $46,180 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,110	$16.88
25th percentile	$37,020	$17.80
Median (50th)	$39,220	$18.85
75th percentile	$43,730	$21.02
90th percentile	$46,180	$22.20

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Washington relative to the national average — is 0.82, suggesting fewer laundry and dry-cleaning workers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

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

Employment Outlook

National employment for 858,171 laundry and dry-cleaning workers in the U.S.. In Washington alone, approximately 3,680 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 2,470 laundry and dry-cleaning workers.

Top Washington Metros for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

The metro areas below employ the most laundry and dry-cleaning workers in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	2,140	$42,500
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	350	$36,180
Kennewick-Richland, WA	170	$37,440
Bellingham, WA	140	$36,980
Yakima, WA	110	$35,480
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	90	$37,130
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	90	$37,010
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	80	$37,390
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	40	$37,230

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

Where laundry and dry-cleaning workers earn the most: 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

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

Knowledge Areas

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

Abilities

Key abilities 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