Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

51-6011 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.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
198,750 1.3 % $10.35 $21,540 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.95 $8.59 $9.58 $11.49 $14.25
Annual Wage (2) $16,540 $17,870 $19,930 $23,890 $29,640

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Drycleaning and Laundry Services 105,300 35.19 $10.00 $20,800
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 28,630 1.72 $10.23 $21,290
Traveler Accommodation 27,930 1.60 $10.38 $21,580
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 10,550 0.20 $11.83 $24,610
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 5,470 0.70 $10.27 $21,360

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Drycleaning and Laundry Services 105,300 35.19 $10.00 $20,800
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 28,630 1.72 $10.23 $21,290
Traveler Accommodation 27,930 1.60 $10.38 $21,580
Consumer Goods Rental 1,440 0.85 $10.19 $21,190
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 5,470 0.70 $10.27 $21,360

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,100 0.05 $17.07 $35,500
Offices of Dentists (8) (8) $16.53 $34,390
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers (8) (8) $16.32 $33,940
State Government (OES Designation) 1,650 0.07 $14.41 $29,960
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 440 0.02 $13.25 $27,570

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 18,790 1.31 0.86 $10.85 $22,570
Texas 15,620 1.48 0.97 $9.74 $20,250
Florida 14,700 2.02 1.33 $9.84 $20,460
New York 14,400 1.69 1.10 $11.28 $23,450
Illinois 9,950 1.76 1.16 $10.75 $22,360




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 1,780 3.03 1.99 $14.22 $29,580
Nevada 2,940 2.61 1.71 $10.71 $22,280
Montana 970 2.24 1.47 $9.94 $20,670
Wyoming 570 2.05 1.34 $10.21 $21,240
Florida 14,700 2.02 1.33 $9.84 $20,460




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 1,780 3.03 1.99 $14.22 $29,580
District of Columbia 610 0.93 0.61 $13.55 $28,180
Alaska 340 1.06 0.70 $12.99 $27,020
Connecticut 1,650 1.02 0.67 $12.65 $26,310
Minnesota 2,890 1.09 0.72 $12.45 $25,890





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 8,550 1.66 1.09 $11.34 $23,580
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 7,250 1.87 1.23 $10.42 $21,670
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 6,430 1.77 1.16 $10.93 $22,730
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 3,700 1.58 1.04 $11.05 $22,980
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 3,540 1.34 0.88 $9.46 $19,690
Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division 3,440 2.82 1.85 $11.20 $23,300
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 3,200 1.41 0.93 $9.77 $20,320
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 3,060 3.03 1.98 $9.84 $20,470
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 2,830 1.65 1.08 $11.42 $23,750
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 2,640 1.53 1.00 $9.80 $20,380