65320 – Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
TEER 5Occupations usually needing a short work demonstration and no formal education
Lead statement
Dry cleaning and laundry machine operators operate machines to dry-clean and launder garments and other articles.
Main duties
- Operate dry cleaning machines to dry-clean dresses, suits, coats, sweaters and other garments, draperies, cushion covers and other articles
- Sort garments and operate washing machines and dryers to clean and dry clothing, sheets, blankets, towels and other articles
- Operate machines to clean and blow-dry fur garments
- Operate machines to dry-clean, dye, spray, re-oil, and re-buff suede and leather garments
- Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches and other solutions and chemicals.
- Check finished garments and other articles to ensure that they are properly dry-cleaned or laundered
- Record damaged or improperly dry-cleaned or laundered garments and other articles
- Use hand-held steam iron to touch up finished garments and other articles
- Assemble and bag finished garments and other articles
- Match invoices with tags on garments or other articles.
- Operate finishing equipment such as steam pressers, and use hand irons to finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry cleaned and laundered articles
- Hand iron laundered fine linens or dry-cleaned silk garments
- Operate fur ironing and glazing equipment to finish fur garments and other fur articles
- Fold and bag dry cleaned and laundered articles
- May operate laundering equipment.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is required.
- Suede, leather and fur cleaners may require experience as dry cleaning or laundry machine operators.
- Dry cleaning and laundry machine operators may require experience as inspectors or assemblers.
- Four to eight weeks of on-the-job training are usually provided.
Example job titles
dry cleaner · dry cleaner helper · launderer · laundry machine operator · assembler - laundry and dry cleaning · inspector - laundry and dry cleaning · ironer - laundry and dry cleaning · laundry finisher · finisher - laundry and dry cleaning · presser - laundry and dry cleaning
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $15.75 | $19.50 | $24.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $19.00 | $21.50 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $17.80 | $21.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $19.00 | $21.50 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $20.50 | $23.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $19.72 | $25.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $18.43 | $20.50 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $17.00 | $20.34 |
| Alberta | $15.50 | $18.00 | $28.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $20.00 | $25.48 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.