DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-6011 Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Occupational Description:
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.| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| EDR 10 - Southeast | 230 | 49 | $14.06/hr | $0.34/hr | $11.19/hr | $12.54/hr | $13.85/hr | $15.16/hr | $17.63/hr |
| Minnesota | 3,370 | 276 | $13.98/hr | $0.17/hr | $10.79/hr | $11.86/hr | $13.57/hr | $15.41/hr | $18.36/hr |
| U S | 209,330 | 2,721 | $12.40/hr | $0.05/hr | $9.02/hr | $10.21/hr | $11.81/hr | $13.92/hr | $16.57/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change - | |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 380 | $17.79/hr | N/A |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 320 | $20.58/hr | N/A |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 230 | $18.61/hr | N/A |
| Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 160 | $17.58/hr | N/A |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 40 | $20.11/hr | N/A |
| Cementing and Gluing Machine Operators and Tenders | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tasks for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
- Cleans machine filters and lubricates equipment.
- Starts pumps to operate distilling system that drains and reclaims dry cleaning solvents.
- Loads or directs other workers to load articles into washer or dry cleaning machine.
- Mixes and adds detergents, dyes, bleach, starch, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
- Inspects spots to ascertain composition and select solvent.
- Sprays steam, water, or air over spot to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise nap, or brighten color.
- Mixes bleaching agent with hot water in vats and soaks material until it is bleached.
- Cleans fabric using vacuum or airhose.
- Operates drycleaning machine.
- Spreads article on worktable and positions stain over vacuum head or on marble slab.
- Applies chemicals to neutralize effect of solvents.
- Sprinkles chemical solvents over stain and pats area with brush or sponge until stain is removed.
- Applies bleaching powder to spot, and sprays with steam to remove stains from certain fabrics which do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
- Matches sample color, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and type, construction, condition, and color of article.
- Immerses article in dye solution and stirs with stick, or dyes article in rotary-drum or paddle dyeing machine.
- Rinses article in water and acetic acid solution to remove excess dye and to fix colors.
- Applies dye to article, using spray gun, electrically rotated brush, or handbrush.
- Operates or directs operation of extractor and drier.
- Sprays or brushes article with prepared solution to remove stains.
- Dissolves dye or bleaching chemicals in water.
- Measures and mixes amounts of bleaches, dyes, oils, and acids, following formulas.
- Immerses article in bleaching bath to strip colors.
- Examines article to identify fabric and original dye by sight, touch, or by testing sample with fire or chemical reagent.
- Tests dye on swatch of fabric, to ensure color match.
- Starts washer, dry cleaner, drier, or extractor, and turns valves or levers to regulate and monitor cleaning or drying operations.
- Tends variety of automatic machines that comb and polish furs; clean, sterilize, and fluff feathers and blankets; and roll and package towels.
- Removes or directs other workers to remove items from washer or dry cleaning machine and into extractor or tumbler.
- Adjusts switches to tend and regulate equipment that fumigates and removes foreign matter from furs.
- Mends and sews articles, using hand stitching, adhesive patch, or power sewing machine.
- Hangs curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry, and transports items between specified locations.
- Irons or presses articles, fabrics, and furs, using hand iron or pressing machine.
- Receives and marks articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code number or name, using hand or machine marker.
- Sorts and counts articles removed from dryer and folds, wraps, or hangs items for airing out, pickup, or delivery.
- Examines and sorts articles to be cleaned into lots, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
- Pre-soaks, sterilizes, scrubs, spot-cleans, and dries contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.
- Washes, dry cleans, or glazes delicate articles or fur garment linings by hand, using mild detergent or dry cleaning solutions.
