Salary progression Dry cleaner

Average salary 28 600 kr
Males 28 600 kr
Females 28 700 kr

What does a Dry Cleaner do? – tasks and work environment

A Dry Cleaner works with cleaning clothes, textiles, and sometimes other materials through chemical processes and specialized machines. The profession involves handling different types of stains, following specific instructions for various textile materials, and ensuring that garments are returned in the best possible condition. The work environment is often machine-intensive and can be noisy, involving chemicals, which requires precision and protective equipment. Customer contact is common, especially during drop-off and pickup, making service skills an important part of the role.

Salary development over time

The salary for Dry Cleaners has increased slightly over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 26,600 SEK per month, while in 2023 it was 27 800, showing a temporary slight decrease. In 2024, the average salary rose to 28 600, which is approximately a 4.9% increase compared to the previous year. This development can be explained by steady demand for textile care services and general wage increases within the occupational group of machine operators. The salary increase may also reflect an increased focus on work environment and quality, where employers reward experience and precision. Differences between genders are small, with women earning slightly more than men, which is uncommon for similar professions.

Dry Cleaner salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 28 600 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 23,400 SEK/month (man, government sector, high school education 3 years)
  • Highest salary: 30,000 SEK/month (woman, public sector, high school education up to 2 years)
  • Hourly wage: 167 SEK
  • Gender differences: Women earn 28 700 SEK, men 28 600 SEK – no significant differences
  • Regional differences: No specific data available

Education and qualifications

To work as a Dry Cleaner, a high school education is usually required, often with a focus on textile care or equivalent practical vocational training. Many employers offer internal training, where practical skills are prioritized over formal qualifications. Prior experience in similar work is advantageous, and some workplaces may require specific certifications or safety training.

  • High school education: Focus on textile care or equivalent
  • Internal training: Common among employers
  • Internship: Advantageous and often a requirement for permanent employment
  • Safety training: Often mandatory when working with chemicals
  • Prerequisites: Attention to detail and good physical health are valued

Working as a Dry Cleaner often involves significant responsibility in identifying different types of materials and determining safe and effective treatments. Those who quickly learn to interpret care labels and material tags can make a big difference in customer satisfaction and the longevity of garments.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Dry Cleaners often have access to benefits such as evening and weekend work supplements, wellness allowances, and sometimes work clothing. Some employers also offer discounted textile cleaning services for staff and opportunities for further training in textile care and safety.

Competition and challenges

Competition for jobs as a Dry Cleaner is relatively low, but regional variation can be significant. Automation and new machines have changed work tasks, requiring technical understanding and adaptability. A challenge is to handle chemicals safely and comply with environmental regulations. Customer expectations for quick and high-quality service are high, demanding precision and flexibility. The profession can also be physically demanding, with many heavy lifts and repetitive tasks. However, there are opportunities for those who want to specialize in textile care or take on supervisory roles.

Tips for aspiring Dry Cleaners

To succeed as a Dry Cleaner, it’s good to combine attentiveness with a strong sense of service. Being detail-oriented helps with sorting and treating different materials, while good physical condition facilitates often heavy and monotonous tasks. Flexibility is a key trait, as workload and tasks can vary greatly depending on season and customer flow. Communication skills are also beneficial, as customer contact is central to the role. Quickly learning new routines and machinery makes daily work easier, and an interest in sustainability and the environment can improve workplace routines. Finally, patience and stress tolerance are important, especially during busy periods.

Key facts about Dry Cleaners

  • Education level: High school, often with specialization in textile care
  • Work environment: Machine-intensive and sometimes noisy with chemical handling
  • Work arrangement: Shift work and daily customer contact
  • Demand: 1,437 available jobs in the profession in Sweden
  • Gender differences: Very small, women earn slightly more on average

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years in the profession, there are opportunities to take on more responsibility, such as supervisory roles in dry cleaning or running your own business. Specialization in advanced textile care, quality control, or machine maintenance is also possible. The forecast from the Employment Service is uncertain for this specific role due to limited data, but the entire group of machine operators within bleaching, dyeing, and washing shows continued demand with 1,437 available jobs registered. Technological development and increased environmental awareness may influence tasks in the future, and individuals with broad competence in textile care and customer service may have particularly good prospects.

Frequently asked questions about Dry Cleaners

  • What is the average salary of a Dry Cleaner?
    - The average salary for a Dry Cleaner is 28 600 SEK/month.
  • What is the hourly wage for a Dry Cleaner?
    - The hourly wage is 167 SEK.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - No, women earn on average 28 700 SEK and men 28 600 SEK, with very small differences.
  • What education is required to become a Dry Cleaner?
    - High school education with a focus on textile care is most common, but internal training often occurs.
  • What are the future prospects for Dry Cleaners?
    - The outlook is uncertain, but there are 1,437 available jobs in the profession in Sweden.
  • What is the highest salary for a Dry Cleaner?
    - The highest salary is 30,000 SEK per month and belongs to a woman in the public sector.
  • What is the lowest salary for a Dry Cleaner?
    - The lowest salary is 23,400 SEK per month and applies to a man in the government sector.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Dry cleaner is 32000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Municipal sector with a pre-secondary education shorter than 9 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 29900 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Dry cleaner is 23800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 26600 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 24900 kr 26900 kr
25-34 96% 26900 kr 28300 kr
35-44 98% 27300 kr 28700 kr
45-54 101% 27700 kr 28900 kr
55-64 102% 28500 kr 29300 kr
Snitt 100% 27400 kr 28600 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Dry cleaner has the SSYK code 8151, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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