Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary in the U.S.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $34,890 a year ($16.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 198,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,190 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $34,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Median | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,190 | $20.77 |
| Average (mean) | $34,920 | $16.79 |
Half of laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,907.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,453.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,341.92 |
| Weekly | $670.96 |
| Hourly | $16.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39,590 | 3,870 |
| Oregon | $37,800 | 1,890 |
| California | $37,790 | 21,940 |
| District of Columbia | $37,790 | 320 |
| Colorado | $37,680 | 3,370 |
| Minnesota | $37,580 | 3,530 |
| Massachusetts | $37,490 | 3,700 |
| North Dakota | $37,470 | 840 |
| Maine | $37,380 | 820 |
| Vermont | $37,300 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $37,230 | 650 |
| New Hampshire | $36,860 | 890 |
| Arizona | $36,500 | 4,290 |
| Connecticut | $36,310 | 1,830 |
| Montana | $36,250 | 1,030 |
| Nevada | $36,210 | 4,540 |
| Alaska | $36,050 | 750 |
| New Jersey | $36,050 | 6,110 |
| Wisconsin | $35,700 | 3,310 |
| Hawaii | $35,690 | 1,730 |
| Utah | $35,690 | 1,470 |
| Illinois | $35,220 | 8,550 |
| Idaho | $35,140 | 1,350 |
| Michigan | $35,100 | 4,970 |
| New York | $35,050 | 13,020 |
| Nebraska | $34,790 | 1,060 |
| Maryland | $34,710 | 3,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,060 | 6,290 |
| Iowa | $34,050 | 1,900 |
| Missouri | $33,870 | 3,930 |
| Delaware | $33,730 | 710 |
| Tennessee | $33,220 | 5,730 |
| South Dakota | $32,780 | 750 |
| Florida | $32,340 | 14,150 |
| Virginia | $32,140 | 4,900 |
| North Carolina | $31,920 | 5,570 |
| Indiana | $30,930 | 3,190 |
| New Mexico | $30,850 | 1,320 |
| Georgia | $30,580 | 5,150 |
| Ohio | $30,520 | 6,990 |
| South Carolina | $30,470 | 3,160 |
| Kansas | $30,120 | 2,160 |
| Texas | $29,630 | 17,030 |
| Kentucky | $29,220 | 2,350 |
| West Virginia | $28,970 | 1,340 |
| Wyoming | $28,630 | 690 |
| Arkansas | $28,460 | 1,640 |
| Alabama | $28,370 | 2,150 |
| Oklahoma | $28,170 | 2,680 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,090 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $27,460 | 2,950 |
| Mississippi | $27,190 | 1,420 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,630 | 620 |
| Guam | $19,280 | 100 |
Best-paying metro areas for laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,410 | 810 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,610 | 2,140 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,310 | 2,040 |
| Napa, CA | $42,600 | 160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $41,080 | 260 |
| Bismarck, ND | $39,760 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $39,680 | 200 |
| Boulder, CO | $39,430 | 160 |
| Bellingham, WA | $39,320 | 210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $39,290 | 1,050 |
| Rochester, MN | $39,030 | 160 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,000 | 1,620 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $39,000 | 100 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $38,980 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,910 | 2,400 |
Metro areas with the most laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 14,040 | $35,910 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,230 | $37,330 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,330 | $35,740 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,460 | $33,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,360 | $32,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,340 | $29,260 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 3,710 | $36,560 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,500 | $36,300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,220 | $36,700 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,050 | $34,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,900 | $32,170 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,820 | $37,690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,400 | $38,910 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 2,390 | $33,010 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,380 | $35,070 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,060 | $16.85 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Upholsterer | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | $17.93 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers in the U.S. is $34,890 a year, or $16.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers in the U.S. earn at least $43,190 a year. The top 25% earn $37,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,440 a year, and a quarter of laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers earn $30,360 or less.
How many laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers work in the U.S.?
About 198,040 laundry and Dry-Cleaning workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.