Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 51-6011 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$34,902
$16.78/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers is $34,902 per year ($16.78/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $30,368 and $37,565 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $43,202 per year. There are approximately 198,040 laundry and dry-cleaning workers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+5.4%
Faster than average
Annual openings
32K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
203K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
3% from new growth97% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Drycleaning and Laundry Services
NAICS 812300
97K
$34,870
Traveler Accommodation
NAICS 721100
40K
$34,640
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
NAICS 623100
21K
$33,710
Employment Services
NAICS 561300
8K
$35,150
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
6K
$38,360
Wage range across top 5 industries: $33,710 to $38,360 (14% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$13.19
$27,435
P25
$14.60
$30,368
P50MEDIAN
$16.78
$34,902
P75
$18.06
$37,565
P90
$20.77
$43,202
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average laundry and dry-cleaning workers salary?
The national median salary for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers is $34,902 per year ($16.78/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $30,368 and $37,565 annually.
How much do top-earning laundry and dry-cleaning workers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers is $43,202 per year ($20.77/hr). The 75th percentile is $37,565 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
Entry-level Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (10th percentile) earn approximately $27,435 per year ($13.19/hr). The 25th percentile is $30,368 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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