Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in New York, NY
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $35,910 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,692 take-home, or $2,474 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,129
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,226
- Medicare (1.45%)$521
- New York income tax$1,342
- Take-home pay$29,692
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $970 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,722 ($2,393 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,340 | $16.03 | $27,765 | $2,314 |
| 25th percentile | $34,020 | $16.36 | $28,275 | $2,356 |
| Median (50th) | $35,910 | $17.26 | $29,692 | $2,474 |
| 75th percentile | $37,380 | $17.97 | $30,793 | $2,566 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,230 | $21.75 | $36,677 | $3,056 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,910 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $29,692 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,378 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $35,910 | $29,692 | $26,378 |
*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 New York, NY?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $35,910 a year, or about $17.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,020 and $37,380.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $35,910 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $29,692 a year ($2,474 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,342 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,378 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #13 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 96% 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 New York, NY
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator — $104,810
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $83,320
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $81,790
- Machinist — $62,750
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $61,680
- Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker — $61,360
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $58,900
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $58,520
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $56,780
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $54,790
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,160
- Printing Press Operator — $49,620