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.

Also called: Dry Cleaner, Industrial Laundry Attendant, Laundry Aide, Laundry Assistant, Laundry Attendant, Laundry Housekeeper, Laundry Technician (Laundry Tech), Laundry Worker, Personal Clothing Laundry Aide, Spotter, Bag Washer, Benzene Washer, Benzene Worker, Blanket Washer, Carpet Cleaner, Cleaner, Cleaning Machine Operator, Cleaning Technician (Cleaning Tech), Clothes Separator, Clothes Shaker, Curtain Cleaner, Drier, Drier Operator, Dry-Cleaning Machine Operator, Dry-Cleaning Machine Tender, Dryer Operator, Drying Machine Operator, Dyer, Folder, Folding Machine Operator, Fur Cleaner, Fur Glazing and Polishing Machine Operator, Fur Glosser, Fur Polisher, Furniture Cleaner, Garment Sorter, Glove Cleaner, Hand Launderer, Handy Worker, Hat Cleaner, Hotel Laundry Attendant, Housekeeping Laundry Aide, Launderer, Laundress, Laundromat Worker, Laundry Associate, Laundry Equipment Operator, Laundry Helper, Laundry Machine Operator, Laundry Machine Tender, Laundry Operator, Laundry Person, Laundry Press Operator, Laundry Room Attendant, Laundry Sorter, Leather Cleaner, Linen Folder, Machine Filler, Machine Fur Cleaner, Machine Rug Cleaner, Machine Washer, Marking Machine Operator, Night Guest Laundry Attendant, Rug Cleaner, Rug Dyer, Separator, Sheet Finisher, Sheet Folder, Sheet Sorter, Shirt Cleaner, Shirt Folder, Shirt Operator, Silk Blocker, Silk Finisher, Silk Spotter, Sorter, Spot Cleaner, Spot Remover, Steam Cleaner, Suede Cleaner, Towel Folder, Towel Sorter, Upholstery Cleaner, Washer, Washing Machine Operator, Washroom Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
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.
Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.

Skills, machines and equipment

Active Listening
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Time Management
Speaking
Coordination
Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Judgment and Decision Making

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.52% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

30,360–37,560 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-6011.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.52% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers