Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $35,740 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,273 take-home, or $2,439 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,109
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,216
- Medicare (1.45%)$518
- Illinois income tax$1,624
- Take-home pay$29,273
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $32,040 | $15.40 | $26,483 | $2,207 |
| Median (50th) | $35,740 | $17.18 | $29,273 | $2,439 |
| 75th percentile | $37,670 | $18.11 | $30,728 | $2,561 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,640 | $20.50 | $34,475 | $2,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,740 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $29,273 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,257 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 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 Chicago, IL?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,740 a year, or about $17.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,040 and $37,670.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $35,740 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,273 a year ($2,439 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,624 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,257 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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