Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $38,910 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,393 take-home, or $2,699 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,489
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,412
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- California income tax$546
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$506
- Take-home pay$32,393
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,600 | $17.12 | $29,908 | $2,492 |
| 25th percentile | $36,920 | $17.75 | $30,899 | $2,575 |
| Median (50th) | $38,910 | $18.71 | $32,393 | $2,699 |
| 75th percentile | $40,210 | $19.33 | $33,368 | $2,781 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,920 | $22.08 | $37,654 | $3,138 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,910 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median laundry and dry-cleaning worker's $32,393 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,951 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA 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
San Diego, CA ranks #4 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.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $37,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry and dry-cleaning worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median laundry and dry-cleaning worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38,910 a year, or about $18.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,920 and $40,210.
What is a laundry and dry-cleaning worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $38,910 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,393 a year ($2,699 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,052 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a laundry and dry-cleaning worker?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $34,890. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,951 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #4 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 91% 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 San Diego, CA
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- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $59,550
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