Prevailing Wage for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
The prevailing wage for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (SOC 51-6011) is set by the DOL and determines the minimum salary a sponsored position must pay. Whether your offer is for a Dry Cleaner, Laundry Attendant, or Laundry Technician role, DOL defines four experience levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level workers with limited experience performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this stage are still developing foundational skills, typically have no prior formal training in the occupation, and handle basic sorting, loading, or operating standard machines.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers who perform standard laundry and dry-cleaning tasks with moderate independence. This is the most common filing level for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, covering those with some industry experience who can handle a range of garments and equipment without constant oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced workers who handle complex cleaning tasks, including spotting, stain treatment, or specialty fabric care, with minimal supervision. These workers typically have several years of hands-on experience and may informally guide newer staff on proper techniques and equipment use.
Level 4 applies to fully competent workers who operate with significant autonomy, take lead responsibility for quality control, handle delicate or high-value items, and may oversee workflow or train other staff. Employers filing at this level should document scope of responsibility clearly in the LCA.
Prevailing Wage for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify whether your role includes specialty spotting work
Spotters and dyers are explicitly included under SOC 51-6011. If your duties involve stain removal or fabric dyeing, confirm your employer files at the correct level, since specialty tasks typically support a Level 3 or Level 4 wage filing rather than an entry-level rate.
Check wages in California and Colorado metros specifically
San Jose, San Francisco, and Denver post prevailing wages substantially above the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in one of these metros but priced near the national floor, the employer may have filed the LCA using the wrong worksite wage area.
Watch for hotel and hospitality employer wage filings
Hotels and resorts frequently sponsor Laundry Aides and Laundry Housekeepers under this SOC. These employers sometimes use regional wages tied to a resort location, which may differ from the nearest metro. Confirm the LCA worksite city matches where you will physically work.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Some employers who hire Laundry Technicians and Dry Cleaners have sponsored this occupation before; others list the role but lack any filing history. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored workers, so you can focus on those with a documented track record for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6011.00 alongside Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Dry Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Dry Cleaner Prevailing Wage
Dry Cleaner positions fall under SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Laundry Aide Prevailing Wage
Laundry Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Laundry Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Laundry Assistant Prevailing Wage
Laundry Assistant Prevailing Wage
Laundry Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Laundry Attendant Prevailing Wage
Laundry Attendant Prevailing Wage
Laundry Attendant positions fall under SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Laundry Housekeeper Prevailing Wage
Laundry Housekeeper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Laundry Housekeeper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Laundry Technician Prevailing Wage
Laundry Technician Prevailing Wage
Laundry Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Laundry Worker Prevailing Wage
Laundry Worker Prevailing Wage
Laundry Worker positions fall under SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Personal Clothing Laundry Aide Prevailing Wage
Personal Clothing Laundry Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Personal Clothing Laundry Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Spotter Prevailing Wage
Spotter Prevailing Wage
Spotter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6011.00 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-6011, the agency calculates four wage levels based on experience and complexity of duties. Employers filing an LCA with OFLC must pay at least the applicable level wage for the specific worksite location listed on the application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with moderate independence; Level 3 is experienced with specialty skills and minimal oversight; Level 4 is fully competent with lead or quality-control responsibilities. Review your job description carefully. If your duties include spotting, dyeing, or training others, a higher level is likely appropriate and the offered wage should reflect that.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions, cost of living, and employer density all influence the result. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. A position in San Jose carries a substantially higher floor than the same title filed in a low-wage southern metro. This worksite-on-LCA rule means geography is the single largest driver of wage variation for this occupation.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered salary falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and without a certified LCA the employer cannot file an H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. USCIS may also issue a Request for Evidence or deny the petition if the wage evidence is inconsistent. The employer must commit in writing to pay at least the prevailing wage throughout the period of employment.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-6011 wages by state and metro area. Enter the worksite city, select the correct occupational code, and review the four level wages. Cross-check the wage level against your actual job duties to confirm the employer is filing at the right level. Migrate Mate also lets you filter Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers listings by location and see which employers have sponsored the role before.
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