Clothes Pressers

At a Glance

Most work for laundry and dry cleaning companies
Use both hands and machines
Usually work alone
Work indoors
May work evenings and weekends
Train on the job

Career summary

Clothes pressers operate presses to remove wrinkles, flatten seams, and give shape to garments.

#reviewed 3/25/19 lh

Clothes pressers use two methods for pressing.

Hand pressers smooth and shape fabric and place articles in position on an ironing board or work table. They push and pull hand irons over the surface of articles. They adjust the temperature of the iron according to the fabric type. If not using a steam iron, pressers spray water over the fabric to soften fibers. Clothes pressers pin, fold, and hang articles after pressing.

They may use covering cloths to prevent scorching or sheen on delicate fabrics. They fit odd-shaped pieces that cannot be pressed flat over a puff iron.

Machine pressers position garments on a table or the feeding mechanism of pressing machines. They adjust machine controls to regulate the temperature and pressure of rollers or plates. After pressing, they examine finished articles and stretch or block articles by hand. Clothes pressers clean and maintain their pressing machines.

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to clothes pressers.

Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand.
Position garments on table or feeding mechanism of pressing machine.
Moisten materials to soften and smooth them. Straighten materials with hands to prepare for machine pressing.
Adjust machine controls to regulate the temperature and pressure of rollers or plates.
Activate pressing machine to remove wrinkles from garments.
Operate machine presses to finish parts that can be pressed flat. Complete other parts by pressing with hand iron.
Remove finished pieces from pressing machines.
Examine finished articles to verify that they meet standards.
Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles.
May apply cleaning solvents to remove spots. Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to raise and smooth nap.
Clean and maintain pressing machines.

Common work activities

Clothes pressers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Control machines and processes
Perform activities that use the whole body
Handle and move objects
Get information needed to do the job
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Schedule work and activities

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, clothes pressers:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a low level of social contact. They work alone most of the time or with other pressers.
May work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

Always work indoors.
Are regularly exposed to very hot temperatures from machines.
Are sometimes exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels.
Are sometimes exposed to hazardous situations that may cause minor burns.
Are sometimes exposed to contaminants such as cleaning fluids.
Often work physically near other pressers.

Work performance

Must meet strict daily deadlines.
Must be exact or highly accurate in performing the job.
Set some daily tasks and goals. Make minor decisions independently, but often consult with supervisors first.
Must allow the work pace to be set by the speed of machinery. This especially applies to pressing machine operators.

Hours/travel

Usually work 40 hours per week.
May work evenings and weekends, if employed by laundry and dry cleaning services.

Physical demands

Clothes pressers frequently:

Stand for long periods of time.
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Repeat the same movements.
Bend or twist their body.

It is important for clothes pressers to be able to:

Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for clothes pressers to be able to:

Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
Move arms and legs quickly.
Determine the distance between objects.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
Understand the speech of another person.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

Skills and abilities

Clothes pressers need to:

Work with things

Operate and control equipment.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

Apparel and Textiles

Training

To work as a clothes presser, you typically need to:

complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Clothes pressers usually receive informal training on the job. They are trained by experienced workers or pressing machine manufacturers.

Training may last up to one month. After training, another worker may supervise your work for a short time.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers often hire inexperienced workers and may not require a high school diploma. However, they often prefer some previous work experience or vocational training.

Employers look for applicants who have good hand-eye coordination. They also look for the ability to perform the same tasks for long periods of time. Knowledge of fabrics may also be helpful.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (SOC 51-6021)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$11.78	$12.24	$13.92	$16.02	$18.70
	Monthly	$2,041	$2,121	$2,412	$2,776	$3,241
	Yearly	$24,500	$25,460	$28,940	$33,310	$38,900
Bellingham	Hourly	$11.96	$12.22	$12.89	$16.23	$18.19
	Monthly	$2,073	$2,118	$2,234	$2,813	$3,152
	Yearly	$24,863	$25,428	$26,800	$33,768	$37,830
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$12.42	$13.15	$14.10	$15.07	$15.67
	Monthly	$2,152	$2,279	$2,444	$2,612	$2,716
	Yearly	$25,833	$27,359	$29,347	$31,335	$32,588
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$12.52	$13.46	$14.98	$17.34	$19.74
	Monthly	$2,170	$2,333	$2,596	$3,005	$3,421
	Yearly	$26,037	$28,008	$31,162	$36,062	$41,066
Vancouver	Hourly	$10.92	$11.91	$12.60	$14.24	$15.35
	Monthly	$1,892	$2,064	$2,184	$2,468	$2,660
	Yearly	$22,719	$24,766	$26,206	$29,608	$31,928
United States	Hourly	$8.65	$9.74	$11.23	$12.95	$14.95
	Monthly	$1,499	$1,688	$1,946	$2,244	$2,591
	Yearly	$18,000	$20,260	$23,350	$26,940	$31,100

Wages vary by employer and the presser's level of experience. In addition, clothes pressers who operate pressing machines may earn higher wages than those who iron by hand.

Clothes pressers who work full time may receive benefits. Common benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (SOC 51-6021)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	826	3.8%	16.1%	113
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	11	0.0%	13.4%	1
Benton and Franklin Counties	43	9.3%	15.0%	6
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	16	6.3%	11.9%	2
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	67	1.5%	15.2%	8
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	74	-14.9%	14.1%	6
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	76	2.6%	14.6%	10
King County	335	2.1%	19.6%	43
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	26	3.8%	13.8%	3
Pierce County	154	9.1%	15.2%	23
Spokane County	60	3.3%	13.9%	8
United States	39,900	-21.3%	5.2%	3,300

National employment

About 75% of clothes pressers work in the laundry and dry cleaning industry.

Major employers:

Laundry and dry cleaning companies
Apparel manufacturing companies
Textile mills

National outlook

Job growth is expected to decline for this occupation. The outlook varies by industry. Demand for clothes pressers in the laundry industry will increase. In contrast, employment in the garment industry will decline due to increased garment production overseas. Automation also makes workers more productive, so fewer workers are needed.

Some job openings will occur as current workers retire, transfer to other occupations, or leave the occupation for other reasons.

Other resources

National Cleaners Association
252 W 29th Street
New York, New York 10001

Service Employees International Union
1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
800.424.8592

References

Career cluster

Human Services

Career path

Realistic (Technical)

O*Net occupation

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (51-6021.00)

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 1 - Little or no preparation needed. No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.