Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Alabama make a median of $28,370 a year, or about $13.64 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $36K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $32,107 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 54.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Alabama?
About laundry and dry-cleaning workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for laundry and dry-cleaning workers in Alabama runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,085/month, which is 55.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for laundry and dry-cleaning workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level laundry and dry-cleaning workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $36K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $31K | +8% | 370 |
| Tuscaloosa | $30K | +6% | 150 |
| Decatur | $30K | +5% | 50 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $29K | +2% | 30 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $28K | -0% | 120 |
| Mobile | $28K | -1% | 150 |
| Birmingham | $28K | -2% | 460 |
| Montgomery | $28K | -2% | 180 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $27K | -6% | 50 |
| Gadsden | $27K | -7% | 50 |
| Dothan | $26K | -8% | 100 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $26K | -9% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track laundry and dry-cleaning workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 55.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for laundry and dry-cleaning workers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new laundry and dry-cleaning workers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,347/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 81% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is laundry and dry-cleaning worker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $28K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
Alabama pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do laundry and dry-cleaning workers make in Alabama?
The median is $28,370 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,450, and experienced laundry and dry-cleaning workers can clear $35,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,965/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 55.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a laundry and dry-cleaning workers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median laundry and dry-cleaning workers salary is worth about $32,107 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do laundry and dry-cleaning workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.