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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

51-6011 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.


National estimates for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Industry profile for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Geographic profile for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

National estimates for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
175,730 0.9 % $ 14.26 $ 29,660 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 10.61 $ 11.98 $ 13.97 $ 15.98 $ 17.79
Annual Wage (2) $ 22,060 $ 24,910 $ 29,060 $ 33,240 $ 37,010


Industry profile for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Drycleaning and Laundry Services 86,070 34.99 $ 14.17 $ 29,460
Traveler Accommodation 35,430 2.10 $ 14.17 $ 29,470
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 19,360 1.44 $ 13.47 $ 28,010
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 6,830 0.12 $ 16.86 $ 35,070
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 4,520 0.51 $ 14.38 $ 29,900

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Drycleaning and Laundry Services 86,070 34.99 $ 14.17 $ 29,460
Traveler Accommodation 35,430 2.10 $ 14.17 $ 29,470
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 19,360 1.44 $ 13.47 $ 28,010
Rooming and Boarding Houses 60 0.56 $ 12.90 $ 26,830
Rental and leasing services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) 1,680 0.52 $ 13.87 $ 28,840

Top paying industries for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 950 0.05 $ 20.46 $ 42,560
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 1,190 0.06 $ 18.46 $ 38,390
Offices of Dentists 210 0.02 $ 18.35 $ 38,180
Other Food Manufacturing 40 0.01 $ 18.10 $ 37,650
Amusement Parks and Arcades 220 0.11 $ 18.03 $ 37,490


Geographic profile for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 15,630 1.20 1.01 $ 12.44 $ 25,880
California 13,990 0.79 0.67 $ 17.28 $ 35,930
Florida 13,570 1.47 1.24 $ 13.01 $ 27,070
New York 12,320 1.35 1.14 $ 16.64 $ 34,600
Ohio 7,230 1.35 1.13 $ 13.18 $ 27,410


Map of location quotient of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 1,630 2.74 2.31 $ 16.40 $ 34,110
Montana 1,080 2.21 1.86 $ 14.25 $ 29,650
Nevada 2,790 1.98 1.66 $ 14.50 $ 30,150
Rhode Island 950 1.98 1.66 $ 14.86 $ 30,900
Alaska 580 1.90 1.60 $ 16.76 $ 34,850


Map of annual mean wages of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 290 0.42 0.35 $ 18.58 $ 38,650
California 13,990 0.79 0.67 $ 17.28 $ 35,930
Washington 2,640 0.78 0.65 $ 17.23 $ 35,830
Alaska 580 1.90 1.60 $ 16.76 $ 34,850
New York 12,320 1.35 1.14 $ 16.64 $ 34,600



Map of employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 12,700 1.38 1.16 $ 16.92 $ 35,190
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,960 0.81 0.68 $ 17.19 $ 35,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 4,510 1.02 0.86 $ 15.35 $ 31,920
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 4,390 1.67 1.41 $ 12.75 $ 26,530
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,810 1.00 0.84 $ 12.74 $ 26,490
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 3,790 1.40 1.18 $ 16.36 $ 34,030
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,330 1.09 0.92 $ 12.63 $ 26,260
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3,010 1.11 0.93 $ 13.02 $ 27,090
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,770 0.91 0.77 $ 15.37 $ 31,970
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 2,440 1.31 1.10 $ 14.58 $ 30,320


Map of location quotient of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 390 5.27 4.44 $ 17.18 $ 35,730
Twin Falls, ID 210 4.46 3.76 $ 14.48 $ 30,110
New Bedford, MA 230 3.51 2.96 $ 15.14 $ 31,490
Flagstaff, AZ 210 3.41 2.87 $ 15.67 $ 32,600
Morgantown, WV 190 3.02 2.54 $ 12.49 $ 25,970
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 520 2.87 2.42 $ 12.40 $ 25,790
Pittsfield, MA 100 2.73 2.30 $ 15.36 $ 31,940
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 470 2.71 2.28 $ 12.60 $ 26,220
Grand Junction, CO 170 2.66 2.24 $ 14.96 $ 31,120
Pine Bluff, AR 80 2.61 2.20 $ 13.39 $ 27,850


Map of annual mean wages of laundry and dry-cleaning workers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,770 0.74 0.62 $ 19.28 $ 40,100
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 570 0.50 0.42 $ 19.27 $ 40,080
Madera, CA 30 0.65 0.55 $ 18.76 $ 39,020
Napa, CA 100 1.30 1.10 $ 18.18 $ 37,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,510 0.74 0.62 $ 17.97 $ 37,390
Santa Rosa, CA 180 0.88 0.74 $ 17.70 $ 36,820
Salinas, CA 210 1.16 0.98 $ 17.50 $ 36,410
Anchorage, AK 320 1.94 1.63 $ 17.40 $ 36,180
Modesto, CA 130 0.66 0.55 $ 17.24 $ 35,860
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,960 0.81 0.68 $ 17.19 $ 35,760

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 540 1.42 1.20 $ 12.05 $ 25,070
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 480 1.48 1.24 $ 12.60 $ 26,220
North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 450 1.63 1.37 $ 12.74 $ 26,490
Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 440 2.24 1.88 $ 13.63 $ 28,340
East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 400 2.89 2.43 $ 12.87 $ 26,760

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 380 3.39 2.85 $ 15.28 $ 31,780
Northeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 280 3.12 2.63 $ 11.73 $ 24,390
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 290 2.98 2.51 $ 17.09 $ 35,540
East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 400 2.89 2.43 $ 12.87 $ 26,760
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 350 2.88 2.42 $ 16.41 $ 34,130

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area 120 1.89 1.59 $ 17.99 $ 37,420
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area 120 1.14 0.96 $ 17.16 $ 35,690
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 290 2.98 2.51 $ 17.09 $ 35,540
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 80 1.34 1.13 $ 16.89 $ 35,140
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 70 0.72 0.61 $ 16.68 $ 34,690


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023