Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $34,730 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,019 take-home, or $2,418 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,988
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$504
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,066
- Take-home pay$29,019
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,299 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,720 ($2,310 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,420 | $14.14 | $24,916 | $2,076 |
| 25th percentile | $31,860 | $15.32 | $26,801 | $2,233 |
| Median (50th) | $34,730 | $16.70 | $29,019 | $2,418 |
| 75th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 | $31,021 | $2,585 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,160 | $20.75 | $35,534 | $2,961 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,730 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $29,019 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,297 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for laundry and dry-cleaning workers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #7 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $34,730 a year, or about $16.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,860 and $37,320.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $34,730 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $29,019 a year ($2,418 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,066 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,297 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #7 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
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- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $60,410
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