Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers (SOC 51-6011) employed 198,040 people in May 2025. The median pay is $34,890 a year ($16.78 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,440 and the highest-paid 10% more than $43,190. BLS projects its employment to change by +4.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 28,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Washington ($39,590), Oregon ($37,800), California ($37,790). Most jobs: California (21,940), Texas (17,030), Florida (14,150).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Median | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Mean | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $43,190 | $20.76 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 204,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 213,700 |
| Change in jobs | 8,700 |
| Percent change | +4.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 28,200 |
| Self-employed share | 2.5% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,150 | 0.80 | $28,370 | $22,450 | $35,560 | -19% | 46% |
| Alaska | 750 | 1.81 | $36,050 | $27,200 | $48,550 | +3% | 48% |
| Arizona | 4,290 | 1.04 | $36,500 | $32,690 | $38,530 | +5% | 55% |
| Arkansas | 1,640 | 0.99 | $28,460 | $23,640 | $34,170 | -18% | 41% |
| California | 21,940 | 0.95 | $37,790 | $35,450 | $46,240 | +8% | 67% |
| Colorado | 3,370 | 0.92 | $37,680 | $32,700 | $46,450 | +8% | 58% |
| Connecticut | 1,830 | 0.85 | $36,310 | $34,010 | $42,000 | +4% | 51% |
| Delaware | 710 | 1.15 | $33,730 | $31,200 | $41,980 | -3% | 54% |
| District of Columbia | 320 | 0.36 | $37,790 | $36,700 | $57,980 | +8% | 61% |
| Florida | 14,150 | 1.12 | $32,340 | $29,150 | $38,010 | -7% | 67% |
| Georgia | 5,150 | 0.83 | $30,580 | $22,580 | $36,970 | -12% | 59% |
| Hawaii | 1,730 | 2.16 | $35,690 | $30,310 | $55,730 | +2% | 65% |
| Idaho | 1,350 | 1.24 | $35,140 | $23,700 | $45,540 | +1% | 47% |
| Illinois | 8,550 | 1.10 | $35,220 | $31,200 | $40,460 | +1% | 45% |
| Indiana | 3,190 | 0.78 | $30,930 | $26,000 | $38,790 | -11% | 43% |
| Iowa | 1,900 | 0.96 | $34,050 | $28,750 | $41,700 | -2% | 35% |
| Kansas | 2,160 | 1.18 | $30,120 | $25,800 | $36,640 | -14% | 43% |
| Kentucky | 2,350 | 0.92 | $29,220 | $23,140 | $36,610 | -16% | 41% |
| Louisiana | 2,950 | 1.20 | $27,460 | $21,680 | $36,530 | -21% | 46% |
| Maine | 820 | 1.00 | $37,380 | $34,640 | $44,190 | +7% | 39% |
| Maryland | 3,780 | 1.07 | $34,710 | $31,200 | $39,800 | -1% | 59% |
| Massachusetts | 3,700 | 0.80 | $37,490 | $34,540 | $42,710 | +7% | 59% |
| Michigan | 4,970 | 0.89 | $35,100 | $28,440 | $43,180 | +1% | 40% |
| Minnesota | 3,530 | 0.94 | $37,580 | $31,090 | $46,530 | +8% | 41% |
| Mississippi | 1,420 | 0.96 | $27,190 | $21,430 | $36,500 | -22% | 44% |
| Missouri | 3,930 | 1.05 | $33,870 | $28,600 | $39,270 | -3% | 38% |
| Montana | 1,030 | 1.58 | $36,250 | $30,160 | $44,980 | +4% | 39% |
| Nebraska | 1,060 | 0.81 | $34,790 | $29,910 | $43,990 | -0% | 38% |
| Nevada | 4,540 | 2.30 | $36,210 | $29,360 | $50,220 | +4% | 57% |
| New Hampshire | 890 | 1.02 | $36,860 | $31,270 | $44,540 | +6% | 51% |
| New Jersey | 6,110 | 1.12 | $36,050 | $32,220 | $40,770 | +3% | 60% |
| New Mexico | 1,320 | 1.19 | $30,850 | $27,210 | $36,690 | -12% | 43% |
| New York | 13,020 | 1.06 | $35,050 | $33,330 | $45,690 | +0% | 56% |
| North Carolina | 5,570 | 0.89 | $31,920 | $26,020 | $38,360 | -9% | 50% |
| North Dakota | 840 | 1.54 | $37,470 | $31,040 | $45,630 | +7% | 31% |
| Ohio | 6,990 | 0.99 | $30,520 | $26,380 | $38,620 | -13% | 43% |
| Oklahoma | 2,680 | 1.23 | $28,170 | $20,750 | $38,600 | -19% | 44% |
| Oregon | 1,890 | 0.75 | $37,800 | $34,000 | $46,660 | +8% | 51% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,290 | 0.81 | $34,060 | $26,970 | $41,880 | -2% | 44% |
| Rhode Island | 650 | 1.02 | $37,230 | $31,200 | $43,750 | +7% | 46% |
| South Carolina | 3,160 | 1.08 | $30,470 | $23,470 | $38,050 | -13% | 50% |
| South Dakota | 750 | 1.29 | $32,780 | $28,100 | $43,330 | -6% | 37% |
| Tennessee | 5,730 | 1.37 | $33,220 | $27,420 | $36,900 | -5% | 46% |
| Texas | 17,030 | 0.95 | $29,630 | $22,620 | $38,960 | -15% | 60% |
| Utah | 1,470 | 0.67 | $35,690 | $26,980 | $45,230 | +2% | 54% |
| Vermont | 280 | 0.73 | $37,300 | $31,570 | $45,960 | +7% | 42% |
| Virginia | 4,900 | 0.94 | $32,140 | $26,490 | $38,500 | -8% | 61% |
| Washington | 3,870 | 0.86 | $39,590 | $35,940 | $47,310 | +13% | 55% |
| West Virginia | 1,340 | 1.50 | $28,970 | $23,070 | $37,030 | -17% | 37% |
| Wisconsin | 3,310 | 0.88 | $35,700 | $29,270 | $42,240 | +2% | 38% |
| Wyoming | 690 | 1.94 | $28,630 | $27,460 | $41,160 | -18% | 42% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 810 | $44,410 | $40,080 | $53,400 | 0.56 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,140 | $43,610 | $38,270 | $49,350 | 0.81 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,040 | $43,310 | $38,070 | $53,400 | 0.67 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,050 | $39,290 | $36,320 | $47,240 | 0.68 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,620 | $39,000 | $35,910 | $46,550 | 0.79 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,400 | $38,910 | $35,600 | $45,920 | 1.23 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,130 | $38,600 | $33,510 | $47,190 | 0.86 |
| Anchorage, AK | 320 | $38,480 | $29,320 | $50,860 | 1.41 |
| Salinas, CA | 300 | $38,230 | $35,700 | $47,590 | 1.25 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,100 | $38,080 | $35,450 | $44,720 | 0.80 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 380 | $37,770 | $35,310 | $44,430 | 0.75 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 340 | $37,730 | $36,100 | $45,990 | 1.33 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,820 | $37,690 | $35,560 | $43,090 | 0.82 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 380 | $37,640 | $36,120 | $44,760 | 1.04 |
| New Haven, CT | 320 | $37,550 | $34,360 | $42,710 | 0.89 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,230 | $37,330 | $35,530 | $45,680 | 1.16 |
| Madison, WI | 490 | $37,260 | $30,740 | $43,060 | 0.94 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 360 | $37,060 | $35,660 | $42,990 | 0.98 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,820 | $37,050 | $34,320 | $42,850 | 0.83 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 320 | $36,860 | $31,470 | $41,620 | 1.24 |
| Fresno, CA | 520 | $36,740 | $34,320 | $42,050 | 0.86 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,220 | $36,700 | $33,570 | $38,210 | 1.06 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 780 | $36,620 | $28,910 | $42,850 | 1.03 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 300 | $36,590 | $34,560 | $39,760 | 0.69 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 3,710 | $36,560 | $30,140 | $50,600 | 2.56 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 940 | $36,560 | $31,200 | $42,880 | 1.03 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 590 | $36,510 | $27,650 | $45,230 | 0.56 |
| Worcester, MA | 330 | $36,480 | $34,740 | $41,540 | 0.74 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 650 | $36,310 | $27,640 | $45,070 | 1.39 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,020 | $36,310 | $29,980 | $43,040 | 0.98 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,500 | $36,300 | $30,260 | $42,440 | 0.88 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 370 | $36,290 | $34,820 | $44,310 | 1.13 |
| Boise City, ID | 550 | $36,240 | $23,870 | $46,180 | 1.10 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 760 | $36,130 | $34,010 | $41,410 | 0.99 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 480 | $36,040 | $31,470 | $40,620 | 1.19 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 14,040 | $35,910 | $33,340 | $45,230 | 1.16 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 510 | $35,860 | $27,770 | $41,720 | 1.05 |
| Reno, NV | 480 | $35,820 | $30,970 | $40,800 | 1.37 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,330 | $35,740 | $31,200 | $42,640 | 1.10 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 520 | $35,620 | $32,240 | $41,980 | 1.53 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 420 | $35,450 | $29,980 | $43,310 | 0.66 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 360 | $35,340 | $28,690 | $42,780 | 1.31 |
| Asheville, NC | 310 | $35,120 | $28,190 | $39,320 | 1.37 |
| Lancaster, PA | 310 | $35,070 | $27,150 | $39,020 | 0.97 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,380 | $35,070 | $29,580 | $37,150 | 1.70 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,970 | $35,060 | $29,120 | $44,860 | 0.81 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 390 | $35,000 | $32,240 | $43,450 | 0.68 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 640 | $34,980 | $32,240 | $43,320 | 0.93 |
| Rockford, IL | 350 | $34,950 | $31,200 | $36,030 | 2.00 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,780 | $34,910 | $30,180 | $40,580 | 1.04 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,050 | $34,730 | $29,420 | $43,160 | 0.83 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 330 | $34,600 | $30,200 | $40,500 | 1.48 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 390 | $34,570 | $28,430 | $40,330 | 0.90 |
| Tucson, AZ | 440 | $34,450 | $31,110 | $36,360 | 0.88 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 510 | $34,380 | $29,100 | $39,010 | 1.00 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 540 | $34,320 | $28,380 | $36,300 | 1.66 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,450 | $34,190 | $29,070 | $39,410 | 1.04 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 370 | $34,000 | $32,220 | $42,390 | 1.74 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,080 | $33,940 | $30,310 | $53,130 | 1.90 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 620 | $33,790 | $28,420 | $40,000 | 1.23 |
The median is $34,890 a year ($16.78 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $27,440 and the highest-paid tenth over $43,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
198,040 in May 2025, and BLS projects +4.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $39,590 (among states with published figures).