Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Tennessee make a median of $33,220 a year, or about $15.97 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $37,002 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 50.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $33K get you in Tennessee?
About laundry and dry-cleaning workers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $33K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 50.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level laundry and dry-cleaning workers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $35K | +6% | 2,380 |
| Clarksville | $33K | +1% | 140 |
| Cleveland | $33K | -1% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $32K | -3% | 460 |
| Jackson | $32K | -3% | 140 |
| Johnson City | $32K | -4% | 120 |
| Memphis | $32K | -5% | 940 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $31K | -6% | 150 |
| Chattanooga | $30K | -10% | 370 |
Compare to other states
Track laundry and dry-cleaning workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 50.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new laundry and dry-cleaning workers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,645/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $33K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
Tennessee pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do laundry and dry-cleaning workers make in Tennessee?
The median is $33,220 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,420, and experienced laundry and dry-cleaning workers can clear $36,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,394/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 50.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $37,002 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.