# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/laundry-and-dry-cleaning-workers
- SOC code: 51-6011.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $34,890 (10th percentile $27,440, 90th percentile $43,190)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.3%
- Openings a year: 28,200
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 0 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 6 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 54 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 68/100)
- Getting Information (importance 66/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 63/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 62/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 61/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 61/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 61/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 61/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 56/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 52/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Chemistry, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Mechanical, Administration and Management

## Also called

Bag Washer, Benzene Washer, Benzene Worker, Blanket Washer, Carpet Cleaner, Cleaner, Cleaning Machine Operator, Cleaning Technician (Cleaning Tech), Clothes Separator, Clothes Shaker

## Related careers

- [Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaners-of-vehicles-and-equipment): $35,830 median pay
- [Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pressers-textile-garment-and-related-materials): $35,060 median pay
- [Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $43,530 median pay
- [Sewing Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewing-machine-operators): $36,670 median pay
- [Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/painting-coating-and-decorating-workers): $41,600 median pay
- [Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/textile-bleaching-and-dyeing-machine-operators-and-tenders): $38,180 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.