Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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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.
Table of contents
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.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
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Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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