Tag and sort incoming pieces
Tag each new piece so it stays identifiable, then group by fabric, color, dirt level and cleaning process.
Career profile
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers wash or dry-clean dirty garments and linens so they're ready.
The job starts before any machine runs: choosing which pieces go together and which stains need a closer look.
A day in the life
Test a stain treatment first
In dry-cleaning roles, check fabric, trim and stain, then test a treatment on a hidden spot before use.
Load and run the machines
Fill commercial machines, pick fabric settings, monitor the cycle and arrange unloading so the next machine is free.
Fold, count and wrap
Iron or machine-fold items, or fold them by hand, then count, wrap or hang them to go back.
Clear filters and floor space
Between loads, clean the machine filters and clear clutter from around the equipment.
Quick facts
Learn on the job
United States · 2025
$16.78/hour
United States · May 2025
4.3% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Learn on the jobTypically no formal educational credential; short-term workplace training. Employers may set additional requirements.
Pay
$16.78/hourNational median of $34,890 a year for laundry and dry-cleaning workers.
Outlook
4.3% growthProjected employment growth over 2025–35, with about 28,200 openings a year on average.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like noticing small differences in materials and sorting things carefully.
- You can repeat a physical task without letting accuracy drift.
- You prefer work that keeps you moving and coordinating with nearby coworkers.
Things to weigh
- Long periods of standing, bending and repeated hand movements can be tiring.
- Production schedules can push the pace even when a load needs extra attention.
- Soiled loads can have strong odors; handling them includes using protective equipment.
Where AI may help
Industrial sorting systems can separate dirty textiles automatically, and folding machines handle some finishing. These tools change how much laundry you move by hand.
What people still lead
People still inspect garment details and choose treatments that suit the fabric and stain.
What we can’t predict yet
How far automated handling spreads will shape whether a shift involves more feeding and folding or more watching equipment and handling exceptions.
Pay in context
Earnings
Compare the hourly rate and expected hours when weighing an offer. Annual wage estimates assume year-round, full-time work.
The national midpoint
The May 2025 median was $16.78 an hour, or $34,890 annually. Half earned less and half earned more; this is not a starting rate.
The national spread
In May 2025, the 10th-percentile wage was $13.19 an hour and the 90th-percentile wage was $20.77. These are wage percentiles, not starting and experienced pay rates.
Workplace pay differs
May 2023 hourly averages were $15.17 in laundry and dry-cleaning services, $15.43 in traveler accommodation and $17.83 in general hospitals. Treat these as historical comparisons, not current offers.
Openings include replacement hiring
Employment is projected to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035. About 28,200 annual openings include replacing people who leave the occupation, as well as growth.
Getting started
Join a hotel laundry team
- What the route involves
- Look for a laundry attendant role that accepts beginners. Learn machine operation and linen handling with the employer's trainer.
- What it can lead to
- You build experience processing the hotel's linens and keeping clean supplies ready for housekeeping.
Take hands-on dry-cleaning instruction
- What the route involves
- The Drycleaning and Laundry Institute offers introductory practice in sorting, machine operation, stain removal and pressing.
- What it can lead to
- You gain practical preparation for garment-processing work, including handling delicate fabrics.
Workplace training is the usual entry path. You can also take practical garment-care instruction before seeking a dry-cleaning role.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get consistent
After entry, learn the load categories and machine settings until you can keep batches moving without mixing items or skipping checks.
Handle more difficult pieces
Build your knowledge of fabrics, trims and stains so you can tackle items that need more than the routine cleaning cycle.
Specialize in garment care
Develop advanced stain-removal and finishing skills to work on more demanding garments.
Where you can work
Hotel laundry rooms
Your output supplies housekeeping. Commercial washers, folding equipment and stocked linen carts connect your work to rooms being readied for guests.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
Garment dry-cleaning shops
Individual garments bring different fabrics, decorative trims and stains. You spend more attention on choosing treatment and getting each piece's finish right.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
Industrial laundry plants
Bulk loads move between large washers and dryers. Quantity targets and coordinated transfers shape the pace, and some plants staff evening shifts.
- Indoors
- Shift work
- Physical demands
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Gather several clean garments from home. Read their care labels and sort them into compatible cleaning groups, setting aside uncertain pieces. Notice whether you enjoy catching the small differences before starting a load.
Stay safe: Keep this to inspection and sorting; do not experiment with stain-removal chemicals.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 51-6011.00 — Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–35. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages — Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- White Lodging, through Marriott Careers. Laundry Attendant — Westin Austin Domain. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Cintas. Warehouse Associate — Washroom Operator — 2nd Shift, Fort Wayne. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Drycleaning and Laundry Institute International. School of Drycleaning Technology — Courses. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Drycleaning and Laundry Institute International. Self Study Courses. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- JENSEN-GROUP. Laundry Automation and Innovation for North America. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national estimates. Accessed 2026-09-29.