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Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$33800	31900	5.4%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$33800

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

31900

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

5.4%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
Operate garment treatment equipment.
Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.
Count finished products or workpieces.
Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.
Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.
Direct operational or production activities.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Clean production equipment.
Lubricate production equipment.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Select equipment, materials, or supplies for cleaning or maintenance activities.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

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.
Mix bleaching agents with hot water in vats, and soak material until it is bleached.
Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
Match sample colors, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and types, construction, conditions, and colors of articles.
Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.
Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.
Iron or press articles, fabrics, and furs, using hand irons or pressing machines.
Hang curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry.
Identify articles' fabrics and original dyes by sight and touch, or by testing samples with fire or chemical reagents.
Immerse articles in bleaching baths to strip colors.
Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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