What Do Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

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.

Salary
$26600
Becoming One
Very Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

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.

  • 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.
  • Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
  • Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers mix bleaching agents with hot water in vats, and soak material until it is bleached. They spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.

A typical day for a Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker will also include:

  • Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
  • Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
  • Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize, and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.
  • Dye articles to change or restore their colors, using knowledge of textile compositions and the properties and effects of bleaches and dyes.
  • Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers also mend and sew articles, using hand stitching, adhesive patches, or sewing machines. They may also clean fabrics, using vacuums or air hoses.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics. They might also hang curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry.

In addition, they start pumps to operate distilling systems that drain and reclaim dry cleaning solvents.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them rinse articles in water and acetic acid solutions to remove excess dye and to fix colors.

To some Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, it is also their responsibility to wash, dry-clean, or glaze delicate articles or fur garment linings by hand, using mild detergents or dry cleaning solutions.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

39% said they were satisfied with their job and 35% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$26600 per year

Average hourly wage

$13 per hour

Entry-level Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $19,130 to $21,890 per year or $9 to $11 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $35,310 $17
Senior (Top 25%) $30,030 $14
Median $25,470 $12
Junior (Bottom 25%) $21,890 $11
No experience (Bottom 10%) $19,130 $9

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $38840 $18.67
State Government $37300 $17.93
Other Personal Services $34750 $16.71
Warehousing and Storage $33840 $16.27
Outpatient Care Centers $33330 $16.02
Specialty Hospitals $31970 $15.37
Local Government $31620 $15.20
Animal Slaughtering and Processing $31490 $15.14
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $31090 $14.95
Religious Organizations $30560 $14.69

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Drycleaning and Laundry Services 91230 $26170 $12.58
Traveler Accommodation 28960 $26630 $12.81
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 20500 $25440 $12.23
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 6830 $30460 $14.65
Services to Buildings and Dwellings 6650 $26200 $12.60
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 4850 $26890 $12.93
Employment Services 4610 $26050 $12.52
Rental and Leasing Services 1670 $27190 $13.07
Local Government 1540 $31620 $15.20
State Government 1330 $37300 $17.93

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
26%

40 hours
61%

More than 40 hours
13%

Working schedule

79%

21%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
4%

Every day
5%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
8%

Every day
14%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
8%

Every day
52%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
65%

Once a year
7%

Once a month
15%

Once a week
9%

Every day
4%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
16%

Slightly competitive
9%

Moderately competitive
23%

Highly competitive
21%

Extremely competitive
32%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
37%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
62%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
80%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
14%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
81%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
4%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
4%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
85%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
4%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Easy
You need little to no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category don’t require a degree. However, you may need a few days to a few months of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Waiters, Logging Machine Operators, and Cashiers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
65%

High School Diploma or equivalent
34%

Post-Secondary Certificate
1%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
32%

1 month
24%

1 to 3 months
24%

3 to 6 months
7%

6 months to 1 year
7%

1 to 2 years
5%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
63%

1 to 3 months
30%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
90%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
19%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
19%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
33%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
48%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
33%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
52%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
48%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
38%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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