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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $33,800 in the US and is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.53 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Time Management.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £23,331 a year for Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 9224). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Laundry and dry-cleaning workers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
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Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
- Law and Government
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Laundry and dry-cleaning workers do?
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.
How much does Laundry and dry-cleaning workers earn?
The median annual salary for Laundry and dry-cleaning workers in the US is $33,800.
What is the job outlook for Laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
The role is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 202,600 workers.
How do I become laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Laundry and dry-cleaning workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
Our AI-durability model gives Laundry and dry-cleaning workers a score of 0.53 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.