Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in Boston, MA
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $37,690 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,799 take-home, or $2,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,337
- Medicare (1.45%)$547
- Massachusetts income tax$1,665
- Take-home pay$30,799
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,560 | $17.10 | $29,194 | $2,433 |
| 25th percentile | $36,100 | $17.36 | $29,601 | $2,467 |
| Median (50th) | $37,690 | $18.12 | $30,799 | $2,567 |
| 75th percentile | $39,450 | $18.97 | $32,126 | $2,677 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,090 | $20.72 | $34,868 | $2,906 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,690 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $30,799 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,448 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $35,070 | $30,359 | $31,513 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,560 | $31,556 | $31,488 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,700 | $30,960 | $29,966 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $38,910 | $32,393 | $28,951 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $37,690 | $30,799 | $28,448 |
| 6 | Orlando, FL | $33,010 | $28,704 | $28,302 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,730 | $29,019 | $28,297 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $35,740 | $29,273 | $28,257 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: 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.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.3% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry and dry-cleaning worker make in Boston, MA?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $37,690 a year, or about $18.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,100 and $39,450.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $37,690 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $30,799 a year ($2,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,665 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,448 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 89% of a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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