Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in Charleston, SC
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $33,790 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,460 take-home, or $2,372 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,875
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,095
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- South Carolina income tax$870
- Take-home pay$28,460
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,420 | $13.66 | $24,466 | $2,039 |
| 25th percentile | $30,560 | $14.69 | $26,058 | $2,172 |
| Median (50th) | $33,790 | $16.25 | $28,460 | $2,372 |
| 75th percentile | $36,960 | $17.77 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,000 | $19.23 | $33,077 | $2,756 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,790 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $28,460 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,189 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charleston, SC has 1.2× the national concentration of laundry and dry-cleaning worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #49 of 76 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $43,610 | $37,221 | $33,492 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $44,410 | $36,520 | $33,073 |
| 3 | Greensboro, NC | $36,310 | $30,415 | $32,752 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $37,260 | $31,260 | $32,132 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $34,380 | $29,150 | $31,788 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,620 | $30,299 | $31,711 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $35,070 | $30,359 | $31,513 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,310 | $30,538 | $31,503 |
| 49 | Charleston, SC | $33,790 | $28,460 | $28,189 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 76 metros →
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $30,220
- Columbia, SC — $29,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry and dry-cleaning worker make in Charleston, SC?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $33,790 a year, or about $16.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,560 and $36,960.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $33,790 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $28,460 a year ($2,372 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $870 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,189 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #49 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 69% 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 Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $79,990
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $62,280
- Machinist — $59,280
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,060
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $51,790
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,470
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $48,180
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $42,850
- Baker — $39,070