Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $34,890 · Median hourly: $16.78 · Employment: 198,040
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| 25th | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Median | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| 75th | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 90th | $43,190 | $20.77 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 51-6011
- Total U.S. employment: 198,040
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $27,440, median pay is $34,890, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $43,190.
The mean wage of $34,920 sits 0.1% above the median — the typical worker earns close to the median, while a smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,370 | $13.64 | -18.7% | 2,150 |
| Alaska | $36,050 | $17.33 | +3.3% | 750 |
| Arizona | $36,500 | $17.55 | +4.6% | 4,290 |
| Arkansas | $28,460 | $13.68 | -18.4% | 1,640 |
| California | $37,790 | $18.17 | +8.3% | 21,940 |
| Colorado | $37,680 | $18.11 | +8.0% | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $36,310 | $17.46 | +4.1% | 1,830 |
| Delaware | $33,730 | $16.22 | -3.3% | 710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,790 | $18.17 | +8.3% | 320 |
| Florida | $32,340 | $15.55 | -7.3% | 14,150 |
| Georgia | $30,580 | $14.70 | -12.4% | 5,150 |
| Hawaii | $35,690 | $17.16 | +2.3% | 1,730 |
| Idaho | $35,140 | $16.90 | +0.7% | 1,350 |
| Illinois | $35,220 | $16.93 | +0.9% | 8,550 |
| Indiana | $30,930 | $14.87 | -11.3% | 3,190 |
| Iowa | $34,050 | $16.37 | -2.4% | 1,900 |
| Kansas | $30,120 | $14.48 | -13.7% | 2,160 |
| Kentucky | $29,220 | $14.05 | -16.3% | 2,350 |
| Louisiana | $27,460 | $13.20 | -21.3% | 2,950 |
| Maine | $37,380 | $17.97 | +7.1% | 820 |
| Maryland | $34,710 | $16.69 | -0.5% | 3,780 |
| Massachusetts | $37,490 | $18.02 | +7.5% | 3,700 |
| Michigan | $35,100 | $16.87 | +0.6% | 4,970 |
| Minnesota | $37,580 | $18.07 | +7.7% | 3,530 |
| Mississippi | $27,190 | $13.07 | -22.1% | 1,420 |
| Missouri | $33,870 | $16.28 | -2.9% | 3,930 |
| Montana | $36,250 | $17.43 | +3.9% | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $34,790 | $16.73 | -0.3% | 1,060 |
| Nevada | $36,210 | $17.41 | +3.8% | 4,540 |
| New Hampshire | $36,860 | $17.72 | +5.6% | 890 |
| New Jersey | $36,050 | $17.33 | +3.3% | 6,110 |
| New Mexico | $30,850 | $14.83 | -11.6% | 1,320 |
| New York | $35,050 | $16.85 | +0.5% | 13,020 |
| North Carolina | $31,920 | $15.35 | -8.5% | 5,570 |
| North Dakota | $37,470 | $18.01 | +7.4% | 840 |
| Ohio | $30,520 | $14.67 | -12.5% | 6,990 |
| Oklahoma | $28,170 | $13.54 | -19.3% | 2,680 |
| Oregon | $37,800 | $18.17 | +8.3% | 1,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,060 | $16.38 | -2.4% | 6,290 |
| Rhode Island | $37,230 | $17.90 | +6.7% | 650 |
| South Carolina | $30,470 | $14.65 | -12.7% | 3,160 |
| South Dakota | $32,780 | $15.76 | -6.0% | 750 |
| Tennessee | $33,220 | $15.97 | -4.8% | 5,730 |
| Texas | $29,630 | $14.25 | -15.1% | 17,030 |
| Utah | $35,690 | $17.16 | +2.3% | 1,470 |
| Vermont | $37,300 | $17.93 | +6.9% | 280 |
| Virginia | $32,140 | $15.45 | -7.9% | 4,900 |
| Washington | $39,590 | $19.04 | +13.5% | 3,870 |
| West Virginia | $28,970 | $13.93 | -17.0% | 1,340 |
| Wisconsin | $35,700 | $17.16 | +2.3% | 3,310 |
| Wyoming | $28,630 | $13.76 | -17.9% | 690 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Related Occupations
- Waiters and Waitresses — $35,230/yr
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,840/yr
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — $58,640/yr
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,540/yr
- Software Developers — $135,980/yr
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,590/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
The median annual wage for laundry and dry-cleaning workers is $34,890 ($16.78 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays laundry and dry-cleaning workers the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many laundry and dry-cleaning workers are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 198,040 laundry and dry-cleaning workers employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do laundry and dry-cleaning workers make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.78. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.