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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary

$33,800

Typical range

$26k – $42k

Job outlook

+5% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

    Entry / Junior

    $26,270

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

    Established

    $33,800

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

    Senior

    $38,085

Key skills

A typical day

  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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