Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Also called: Bag Washer, Benzene Washer, Benzene Worker, Blanket Washer, Carpet Cleaner, Cleaner, Cleaning Machine Operator, Cleaning Technician (Cleaning Tech)
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.
What laundry and dry-cleaning workers do
Typical 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.
- Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
- Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.
- Apply chemicals to neutralize the effects of solvents.
- Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary
The median annual wage for laundry and dry-cleaning workers is $34,890 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $27,440 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $43,190. The mean annual wage is $34,920.
The mean hourly wage of $16.00 is 2.2× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $34,890 → in 3 years $38,300 → in 5 years $40,700 → in 10 years $47,500 (10-year range $40,800–$55,100). The model assumes pay growth of +3.1% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers United States | クリーニング師 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $34,890 | ¥2.98M ≈ $18,971 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $47,500 | ¥4.13M |
| Outlook score | 51 | 52 |
| AI replacement risk | 35% Low | 25% Low |
| Workers | 198K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become laundry and dry-cleaning workers
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as laundry and dry-cleaning workers
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.