Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (SOC 51-6021) earn a median $35,060 a year ($16.85 an hour) in the United States, with 26,120 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Illinois.
What pressers, textile, garment, and related materials do
Pressers shape and smooth garments and other fabric articles with steam, heat, and pressure, either by hand irons or with machine presses. They take garments and flatwork items and remove wrinkles, or shape, form, or patch articles. A presser straightens and smooths the material, lowers an iron, ram, or pressing head into position, and operates the steam or hydraulic equipment for the required time. Pleated garments take special care, because the presser works out pleat sizes from old creases or the work order. Once pressed, pieces are hung or stacked to cool, then folded, packaged, and tagged for delivery or sent on for additional processing. Articles may be shrunk, stretched, or blocked by hand to match original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam, and spots on garments are identified and treated. Pressing differs from laundry washing and dry cleaning, which clean the articles, and from sewing and tailoring, which construct or alter them.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, less than a high school diploma is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: All-Around Presser, Armhole Presser, Automatic Presser, Blocker, Boarder.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.07 | $14.36 | $16.85 | $18.24 | $20.70 | $16.65 | 26,120 |
| Annual | $27,180 | $29,870 | $35,060 | $37,940 | $43,050 | $34,640 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pressers, textile, garment, and related materials earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $16.16 | $17.22 | $19.34 | $22.47 | $34.50 | $22.20 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $33,610 | $35,810 | $40,230 | $46,740 | $71,750 | $46,170 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.58 | $18.13 | $18.89 | $20.75 | $21.68 | $19.39 | 3,850 | 0.21 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $36,570 | $37,720 | $39,300 | $43,160 | $45,100 | $40,320 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $14.41 | $17.02 | $18.53 | $18.95 | $18.95 | $18.07 | 100 | 0.15 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $29,970 | $35,410 | $38,540 | $39,410 | $39,410 | $37,590 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $17.09 | $17.59 | $18.41 | $18.96 | $18.96 | $18.26 | 320 | 0.11 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $35,550 | $36,590 | $38,300 | $39,440 | $39,440 | $37,980 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $16.05 | $17.11 | $18.28 | $18.49 | $20.12 | $18.00 | 60 | 0.09 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $33,390 | $35,600 | $38,020 | $38,460 | $41,850 | $37,430 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.58 | $18.13 | $18.89 | $20.75 | $21.68 | $19.39 | 3,850 | 0.21 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $36,570 | $37,720 | $39,300 | $43,160 | $45,100 | $40,320 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.84 | $12.89 | $14.27 | $17.09 | $18.48 | $14.69 | 3,490 | 0.25 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $22,560 | $26,800 | $29,680 | $35,550 | $38,430 | $30,560 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.94 | $14.36 | $15.27 | $16.75 | $17.14 | $15.63 | 2,130 | 0.21 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $29,000 | $29,880 | $31,760 | $34,840 | $35,660 | $32,500 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.44 | $16.85 | $17.55 | $19.60 | $21.78 | $18.54 | 1,730 | 0.18 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $34,200 | $35,050 | $36,510 | $40,760 | $45,300 | $38,570 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $10.87 | $13.80 | $15.87 | $17.87 | $17.89 | $15.44 | 1,010 | 0.21 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $22,610 | $28,700 | $33,010 | $37,160 | $37,210 | $32,110 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $21.20 | $21.29 | $21.36 | $22.84 | $23.17 | $22.06 | 110 | 0.09 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $44,100 | $44,290 | $44,440 | $47,510 | $48,200 | $45,890 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.00 | $19.65 | $21.05 | $21.98 | $22.11 | $20.98 | 600 | 0.25 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $39,510 | $40,880 | $43,790 | $45,730 | $46,000 | $43,630 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $17.12 | $17.66 | $19.00 | $20.70 | $22.58 | $19.69 | 130 | 0.11 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $35,610 | $36,740 | $39,510 | $43,060 | $46,970 | $40,950 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.75 | $18.29 | $18.89 | $20.77 | $21.00 | $19.42 | 1,420 | 0.23 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $36,920 | $38,050 | $39,300 | $43,200 | $43,680 | $40,390 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $18.16 | $18.41 | $18.83 | $18.96 | $18.96 | $18.76 | 190 | 0.12 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $37,780 | $38,300 | $39,170 | $39,440 | $39,440 | $39,010 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.65 | $17.05 | $18.23 | $19.85 | $23.26 | $18.94 | 1,990 | 0.21 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $34,630 | $35,460 | $37,920 | $41,280 | $48,380 | $39,380 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.75 | $18.29 | $18.89 | $20.77 | $21.00 | $19.42 | 1,420 | 0.23 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $36,920 | $38,050 | $39,300 | $43,200 | $43,680 | $40,390 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $11.22 | $13.27 | $15.28 | $17.59 | $20.06 | $15.45 | 1,050 | 0.26 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $23,330 | $27,600 | $31,790 | $36,590 | $41,720 | $32,130 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $14.11 | $14.46 | $15.62 | $16.85 | $17.39 | $15.86 | 1,040 | 0.37 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $29,350 | $30,090 | $32,480 | $35,060 | $36,170 | $32,990 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $10.93 | $13.09 | $14.27 | $17.66 | $18.49 | $14.80 | 740 | 0.23 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $22,720 | $27,230 | $29,680 | $36,730 | $38,460 | $30,790 | ||||
Top industries employing pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
Drycleaning and Laundry Services employ 89.7% of pressers, textile, garment, and related materials nationally (23,420 jobs) at a median $34,840 a year ($16.75 an hour), followed by Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (1.2%) and Printing and Related Support Activities (1.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services NAICS 812300 | 23,420 | 89.7% | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing NAICS 315200 | 320 | 1.2% | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities NAICS 323100 | 290 | 1.1% | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Fabric Mills NAICS 313200 | 190 | 0.7% | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) NAICS 5320A1 | 190 | 0.7% | $35,670 | $17.15 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (26,120). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $28,680 for pressers, textile, garment, and related materials in May 2021 and $35,060 in May 2025, with employment of 26,910 and 26,120.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $28,680 | $13.79 | 26,910 |
| May 2022 | $29,690 | $14.27 | 28,570 |
| May 2023 | $32,240 | $15.50 | 28,700 |
| May 2024 | $33,880 | $16.29 | 26,830 |
| May 2025 | $35,060 | $16.85 | 26,120 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
44 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois profile | $19.34 | $40,230 | $33,610 | $71,750 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | California profile | $18.89 | $39,300 | $36,570 | $45,100 | 3,850 | 0.21 | 1.26 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $18.53 | $38,540 | $29,970 | $39,410 | 100 | 0.15 | 0.91 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $18.41 | $38,300 | $35,550 | $39,440 | 320 | 0.11 | 0.65 |
| 5 | Maine profile | $18.28 | $38,020 | $33,390 | $41,850 | 60 | 0.09 | 0.51 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $18.23 | $37,920 | $33,330 | $48,430 | 870 | 0.20 | 1.20 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $18.09 | $37,620 | $35,820 | $46,280 | 460 | 0.13 | 0.77 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $17.73 | $36,870 | $32,050 | $44,140 | 360 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $17.72 | $36,860 | $35,240 | $46,970 | 230 | 0.12 | 0.69 |
| 10 | New York profile | $17.55 | $36,510 | $34,200 | $45,300 | 1,730 | 0.18 | 1.07 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $17.50 | $36,410 | $34,000 | $43,750 | 470 | 0.13 | 0.77 |
| 12 | Rhode Island profile | $17.49 | $36,390 | $33,170 | $37,720 | 170 | 0.35 | 2.06 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $17.45 | $36,290 | $27,230 | $44,750 | 300 | 0.07 | 0.40 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $17.32 | $36,030 | $34,570 | $43,770 | 740 | 0.43 | 2.58 |
| 15 | Idaho profile | $17.30 | $35,990 | $25,010 | $55,830 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.77 |
| 16 | Hawaii profile | $17.30 | $35,980 | $30,570 | $40,870 | 90 | 0.15 | 0.90 |
| 17 | Nevada profile | $17.09 | $35,560 | $31,360 | $37,490 | 820 | 0.53 | 3.13 |
| 18 | Wisconsin profile | $17.07 | $35,500 | $31,200 | $42,630 | 350 | 0.12 | 0.70 |
| 19 | Utah profile | $16.98 | $35,320 | $30,700 | $37,400 | 320 | 0.19 | 1.10 |
| 20 | Montana profile | $16.96 | $35,270 | $30,320 | $39,810 | 30 | 0.06 | 0.36 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $16.53 | $34,390 | $31,200 | $38,850 | 480 | 0.17 | 1.03 |
| 22 | Nebraska profile | $16.01 | $33,300 | $28,080 | $35,880 | 170 | 0.17 | 1.01 |
| 23 | Georgia profile | $15.87 | $33,010 | $22,610 | $37,210 | 1,010 | 0.21 | 1.22 |
| 24 | Iowa profile | $15.86 | $32,990 | $21,890 | $34,120 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.39 |
| 25 | Florida profile | $15.27 | $31,760 | $29,000 | $35,660 | 2,130 | 0.21 | 1.28 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $15.01 | $31,220 | $28,000 | $35,810 | 720 | 0.18 | 1.04 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $24,420 | $35,790 | 530 | 0.27 | 1.58 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $14.82 | $30,820 | $27,840 | $36,950 | 810 | 0.15 | 0.87 |
| 29 | Missouri profile | $14.67 | $30,520 | $28,600 | $40,000 | 330 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $14.65 | $30,460 | $29,030 | $47,240 | 50 | 0.19 | 1.11 |
| 31 | Arkansas profile | $14.37 | $29,880 | $28,490 | $33,970 | 470 | 0.36 | 2.16 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $14.36 | $29,880 | $27,220 | $37,390 | 700 | 0.12 | 0.68 |
| 33 | Texas profile | $14.27 | $29,680 | $22,560 | $38,430 | 3,490 | 0.25 | 1.48 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $14.17 | $29,460 | $24,660 | $45,220 | 410 | 0.13 | 0.75 |
| 35 | North Carolina profile | $14.09 | $29,300 | $23,230 | $36,030 | 550 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 36 | South Carolina profile | $14.02 | $29,160 | $19,480 | $35,520 | 220 | 0.10 | 0.56 |
| 37 | Kansas profile | $14.00 | $29,110 | $26,840 | $31,840 | 150 | 0.10 | 0.62 |
| 38 | Indiana profile | $13.87 | $28,840 | $26,090 | $37,310 | 410 | 0.13 | 0.76 |
| 39 | New Mexico profile | $13.81 | $28,730 | $25,570 | $40,200 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.78 |
| 40 | West Virginia profile | $13.65 | $28,400 | $23,140 | $30,880 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.57 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $13.63 | $28,340 | $23,860 | $34,250 | 330 | 0.19 | 1.14 |
| 42 | Mississippi profile | $13.07 | $27,180 | $22,930 | $33,700 | 400 | 0.34 | 2.03 |
| 43 | Louisiana profile | $13.06 | $27,170 | $23,150 | $30,230 | 190 | 0.10 | 0.60 |
| 44 | Alabama profile | $12.92 | $26,860 | $23,660 | $35,180 | 390 | 0.19 | 1.10 |
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-6021 Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-6021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.