Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035 (about 8,700 more jobs), with about 28,200 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $34,890 a year ranks 812th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +4.3%
- Openings a year
- 28,200
- Median pay
- $34,890
- Pay rank
- 812th of 825
Is employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of laundry and dry-cleaning workers to rise 4.3% (about 8,700 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is faster than the -0.4% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 105 production occupations with a projection. That change ranks 281st of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 204,900 |
| Employment, 2035 | 213,700 |
| Projected change | +4.3% |
| Openings a year | 28,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 204,900 jobs here differ from the 198,040 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 28,200 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 123rd most of 830 occupations. About 97% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 870 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for laundry and dry-cleaning workers rank?
The median of $34,890 a year ranks 812th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: short-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | -15.7% | 2,200 | $35,060 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | +3.4% | 1,700 | $43,530 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | -15.1% | 9,800 | $36,670 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | +1.3% | 700 | $41,600 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | -12.5% | 600 | $38,180 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | -18.9% | 500 | $38,020 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | +4.1% | 41,400 | $43,220 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | +2.5% | 15,300 | $48,250 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.