Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

August 8, 2008

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

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Pay: The 1,890 laundry and dry-cleaning workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area earned a median $10.82 an hour, or $22,500 a year in 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,780 and $25,600.

Benefits vary by size of company; small establishments may offer very little.

The job: Workers clean cloth garments, linens, draperies, blankets and other articles. They also may clean leather, suede, furs and rugs. They treat spots and stains on articles before laundering or dry cleaning.

They tend machines during cleaning and ensure that items are not lost or misplaced with those of another customer. They shape and remove wrinkles from items after steam-pressing them or ironing them by hand. Workers then assemble each customer's items, box or bag them, and prepare an itemized bill for the customer.

Working on evenings and weekends is common. Establishments are often hot and noisy.

Employees also may be exposed to harsh solvents, but newer solvents are improving the work environment in some establishments.

Training: Although laundries and dry cleaners prefer entrants with previous work experience, they routinely hire inexperienced workers with a high-school diploma or less education and provide training on the job.

Demand: Employment is expected to increase 10 percent between 2006 and 2016.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco