Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in Columbia, SC
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $29,830 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,516 take-home, or $2,126 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,849
- Medicare (1.45%)$433
- South Carolina income tax$633
- Take-home pay$25,516
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,500 | $10.82 | $19,823 | $1,652 |
| 25th percentile | $28,210 | $13.56 | $24,305 | $2,025 |
| Median (50th) | $29,830 | $14.34 | $25,516 | $2,126 |
| 75th percentile | $34,550 | $16.61 | $29,025 | $2,419 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,270 | $17.92 | $31,047 | $2,587 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,830 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $25,516 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,242 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 Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Columbia, SC | $29,830 | $25,516 | $27,242 |
*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
- Charleston, SC — $33,790
- Greenville, SC — $30,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry and dry-cleaning worker make in Columbia, SC?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $29,830 a year, or about $14.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,210 and $34,550.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $29,830 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $25,516 a year ($2,126 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $633 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,242 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #64 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 54% 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 Columbia, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,420
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $55,070
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $51,010
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,730
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,310
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $43,790
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,230
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $41,340
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $39,560
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — $35,660
- Baker — $33,800