How much does a laundry worker make?

In the United States, experience and useful skills—like spotting stains and choosing fabric-safe methods—can help workers earn more. Pay also varies by employer setting and location, while total yearly earnings depend on hours worked.

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.

What's a typical day like?

They tag and sort clothes by fabric and color, check for stains, then load washers or dry-cleaning machines. After cleaning, they press clothes, fold or hang them, and remove items from the machines.

In the U.S., many people can apply for an entry-level laundry job without college; some employers ask for a high-school diploma, though others do not. Workers learn to sort fabrics, run machines, and press clothes on the job, often in a few days to a year.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.

“Dry” cleaning is not really dry: workers clean clothes in liquid solvents, with very little water or none at all.

The US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.