Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Salary
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers in Wisconsin make a median of $35,700 a year, or about $17.16 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $42K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $37,846 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 49.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Wisconsin?
About laundry and dry-cleaning workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 48.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level laundry and dry-cleaning workers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $42K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $37K | +4% | 490 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $37K | +3% | 140 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $36K | +2% | 1,020 |
| Green Bay | $36K | +2% | 220 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $36K | +0% | 140 |
| Appleton | $35K | -1% | 160 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $35K | -2% | 40 |
| Eau Claire | $35K | -2% | 120 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $35K | -2% | 40 |
| Sheboygan | $35K | -2% | 50 |
| Wausau | $34K | -5% | 50 |
| Kenosha | $32K | -11% | 40 |
| Fond du Lac | $31K | -13% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a laundry and dry-cleaning worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 48.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new laundry and dry-cleaning workers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,756/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for laundry and dry-cleaning workers?
Wisconsin pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do laundry and dry-cleaning workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $35,700 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,270, and experienced laundry and dry-cleaning workers can clear $42,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,486/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 48.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $37,846 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.