AI Automation Index

Will AI Replace Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers?

Task-level automation exposure for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers: 32 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.

E-E-A-T Verified

Developed & audited by Gini Loh

Automation Exposure

15% weighted task index

32 of 32 tasks scored

Median Salary

$34,890 / year

BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation

Employment Level

High

198,040 people hold this job — size, not growth

Projected 2025–35

+4.3% employment change

28,200 openings a year · BLS line item

Pay by state

BLS OEWS publishes 54 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.

$19,280 – $39,590

Highest medians

Washington $39,590

Oregon $37,800

California $37,790

District of Columbia $37,790

Colorado $37,680

Lowest medians

Guam $19,280

Puerto Rico $22,630

Mississippi $27,190

Louisiana $27,460

Virgin Islands $28,090

State figures come from the 51-6011 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.

What the score is made of

Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.

Automation potential 15%

Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.

Physical work 74%

Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.

Judgment & influence 30%

Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.

Routine administration 0%

Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.

Rewritten by O*NET 0%

Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.

Consequence of error 2/100 Low

O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.

Constituent Task Mix

32 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.

High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 0%

0 tasks

Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 4%

1 tasks

Low exposure (below 35%) 96%

31 tasks

How would you survive?

Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.

Simulate Upskilling →

Emerging & rewritten tasks

Tasks O*NET added or rewrote for this occupation in its recent updates (05/2025 – 08/2026), with who proposed them. Additions are not in the scored task inventory — they are new work O*NET is still measuring, so they appear here and nowhere in the index. A Revision replaces a task that is scored, which is why only those move the "Rewritten by O*NET" share.

New 08/2026 · Incumbent

Deliver clean linens and clothes to clients.
New 08/2026 · Incumbent

Receive supply deliveries and stock items in storage rooms.

Constituent Tasks

#12125 · Core · 20% automatable

Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.

interpersonal — Directing production operations is human supervisory authority

Operate garment treatment equipment. Direct operational or production activities.

#12124 · Core · 18% automatable

Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.

interpersonal — Directing production operations is human supervisory authority

Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. Direct operational or production activities.

#12121 · Core · 19% automatable

Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.

interpersonal — Directing production operations is human supervisory authority

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel. Direct operational or production activities.

#12119 · Core · 20% automatable

Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.

visual inspection — Counting physical products needs presence or sensors

Count finished products or workpieces. Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.

#12118 · Core · 9% automatable

Start washers, dry cleaners, driers, or extractors, and turn valves or levers to regulate machine processes and the volume of soap, detergent, water, bleach, starch, and other additives.

physical manipulation — Hands-on operation of garment treatment machinery

Operate garment treatment equipment. Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12120 · Core · 18% automatable

Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.

visual inspection — Garment defect inspection needs physical handling

Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains. Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.

#12123 · Core · 8% automatable

Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.

physical manipulation — Manual lubrication of production equipment

Clean production equipment. Lubricate production equipment.

#12127 · Core · 55% automatable

Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.

decision support — Cleaning supply selection needs site-specific judgment

Select equipment, materials, or supplies for cleaning or maintenance activities.

#12135 · Core · 8% automatable

Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12126 · Core · 25% automatable

Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.

visual inspection — Garment defect inspection needs physical handling

Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.

#12139 · Supplemental · 6% automatable

Apply chemicals to neutralize the effects of solvents.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel. Repair textiles or apparel.

#12117 · Supplemental · 12% automatable

Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.

physical manipulation — Marking workpieces is hands-on physical task

Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.

#12136 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12133 · Supplemental · 10% automatable

Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.

physical manipulation — Hands-on operation of garment treatment machinery

Operate garment treatment equipment.

#12131 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12122 · Supplemental · 12% automatable

Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.

physical manipulation — Physical mixing of chemical solutions

Mix substances to create chemical solutions.

#12144 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Wash, dry-clean, or glaze delicate articles or fur garment linings by hand, using mild detergents or dry cleaning solutions.

physical manipulation — Manual cleaning of fabrics with unpredictable materials

Clean fabrics or apparel. Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12138 · Supplemental · 30% automatable

Match sample colors, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and types, construction, conditions, and colors of articles.

visual inspection — Vision AI assists but physical comparison is human

Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.

#12129 · Supplemental · 12% automatable

Operate dry-cleaning machines to clean soiled articles.

physical manipulation — Hands-on control of industrial machinery in unstructured settings

Clean fabrics or apparel. Operate industrial equipment.

#12142 · Supplemental · 5% automatable

Iron or press articles, fabrics, and furs, using hand irons or pressing machines.

physical manipulation — Fine manual dexterity on fabric with heat tools

Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers.

#12143 · Supplemental · 5% automatable

Hang curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry.

physical manipulation — Mounting workpieces is physical loading

Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.

#12128 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Spray steam, water, or air over spots to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise naps, or brighten colors.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12146 · Supplemental · 4% automatable

Mend and sew articles, using hand stitching, adhesive patches, or sewing machines.

physical manipulation — Operating sewing equipment is manual machine work

Sew clothing or other articles. Repair textiles or apparel. Operate sewing equipment.

#12141 · Supplemental · 7% automatable

Dye articles to change or restore their colors, using knowledge of textile compositions and the properties and effects of bleaches and dyes.

physical manipulation — Manual application of solutions to fabrics

Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel. Repair textiles or apparel. Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.

#12130 · Supplemental · 14% automatable

Test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics.

physical manipulation — Testing samples requires lab hands-on work

Test materials, solutions, or samples. Clean fabrics or apparel. Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12137 · Supplemental · 12% automatable

Mix bleaching agents with hot water in vats, and soak material until it is bleached.

physical manipulation — Physical mixing of chemical solutions

Mix substances to create chemical solutions.

#12148 · Supplemental · 12% automatable

Clean fabrics, using vacuums or air hoses.

physical manipulation — Pumping systems operated and adjusted in field

Clean fabrics or apparel. Operate pumping systems or equipment.

#12132 · Supplemental · 15% automatable

Start pumps to operate distilling systems that drain and reclaim dry cleaning solvents.

physical manipulation — Pumping systems operated and adjusted in field

Operate pumping systems or equipment. Operate pumps or compressors.

#12145 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Rinse articles in water and acetic acid solutions to remove excess dye and to fix colors.

physical manipulation — Manual cleaning of fabrics with unpredictable materials

Clean fabrics or apparel. Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.

#12147 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Immerse articles in bleaching baths to strip colors.

physical manipulation — Immersing workpieces in solutions by hand

Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.

#12140 · Supplemental · 22% automatable

Identify articles' fabrics and original dyes by sight and touch, or by testing samples with fire or chemical reagents.

physical manipulation — Chemical/physical testing requires lab manipulation

Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.

#12134 · Supplemental · 5% automatable

Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.

physical manipulation — Mounting workpieces is physical loading

Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.

Embed this calculator on your site ↓

Bloggers & authors: Embed this interactive calculator directly in your articles or comparison guides. It loads dynamically via a responsive iframe (auto-resizing to prevent double scrollbars) and provides a direct, high-value tool for your audience.

<div class="giniloh-calculator-embed" data-calculator="laundry-and-dry-cleaning-workers"></div>
<script src="https://giniloh.com/embed.js" async></script>

Community Sentiment

Do you agree?

Do you agree with the AI automation risk score calculated for this occupation?

Method

How this was scored

1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.

Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.

Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast

See the full method →

Best AI Proof Jobs in a Changing Market

Worried robots are coming for your paycheck? You’re not alone—but the real story is far more hopeful. This guide cuts through the scare headlines to reveal exactly where smart, sustainable career opportunities exist right now. We’ve curated a list of true ai proof jobs—roles in healthcare, skilled trades, and cybersecurity that not only survive automation but thrive because of human judgment and empathy. You’ll get specific, money-making data on projected growth (the BLS says wind turbine technicians, for instance, will grow 44% by 2032), real salary ranges from active job listings, and a simple self-assessment quiz to identify your own most resilient path. Plus, we name companies hiring today and the niche job boards they use. Stop worrying and start planning—your secure career is closer than you think.

Read Article ->