Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

SOC: 51-6021 O*NET: 51-6021.00
Median Salary
$33,880
per year
Job Growth
📉 -13.5%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.8
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1

Press or shape articles by hand or machine.

What does a Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials do?

Press or shape articles by hand or machine.

How much can you earn?

Entry Level
$24,960
10th percentile
Early Career
$29,060
25th percentile
Median
$33,880
50th percentile
Experienced
$36,830
75th percentile
Top Earners
$41,410
90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th
$24,960
25th
$29,060
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$33,880
Mean: $33,370
75th
$36,830
90th
$41,410
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)

Key Insights

  • Salary range spans $16,450 from entry level to top earners
  • Middle 50% earn between $29,060 and $36,830
  • Salary spread is 22.9% around the median, showing low variation
  • Total national employment: 26,830 professionals

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:28,400

Top Industries

Other Services (except Public Administration)87.8%
Drycleaning and Laundry Services87.7%
Personal and Laundry Services87.7%

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:-13.5%
Annual Openings:2,800

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)28,400
Current
2034 (Projected)24,600
-13.5%
-3,800
Employment Change
-13.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: Decline

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Explore where Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials professionals work across the United States

Showing 15 of 46 locations
California
4,330 jobs$38,1601.38x
Texas
2,400 jobs$27,4600.99x
New York
2,380 jobs$34,6901.43x
Florida
1,930 jobs$29,4501.13x
Georgia
1,130 jobs$26,9501.34x
Connecticut
1,090 jobs$36,6403.71x
Ohio
1,020 jobs$29,7201.06x
Nevada
940 jobs$32,1303.54x
North Carolina
710 jobs$30,0500.83x
New Jersey
690 jobs$34,8600.93x
Kentucky
650 jobs$30,4901.87x
Wisconsin
630 jobs$35,2501.25x
Massachusetts
590 jobs$34,0800.93x
Pennsylvania
590 jobs$30,1800.56x
Washington
500 jobs$38,2600.82x

Understanding the Data

Location Quotient (LQ):

  • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
  • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
  • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average

Data Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024

Key Growth Factors

  • Employment decline projected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Operation and Control
100%

Skills Overview

Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:
Sort by:

Operation and Control

advanced
Importance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers100%
1 shared skills
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment50%
1 shared skills
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders50%
1 shared skills
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors50%
1 shared skills
Floor Sanders and Finishers33%
1 shared skills
Rock Splitters, Quarry33%
1 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Mid Career

Expected:
  • Operation and Control

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • Operation and Control

Skill Development Tips

  • Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
  • Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
  • Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
  • Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Technology Intensity
Medium

Digital Literacy Requirements

This career requires intermediate digital literacy

1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert

Key Digital Competencies:

Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

Microsoft Excel

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Word

🔥 Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word

📚 Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

  • Vendor-specific software certifications
  • Industry-recognized technology credentials
  • Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

  • LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
  • Coursera - University-level programs
  • Udemy - Practical skills training

💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

  • Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
  • Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
  • Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
  • Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL

💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

  • Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
  • Can you meet moderate physical demands?
  • Do you enjoy some team team environments?
  • Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations & Execution (1)General Responsibilities (18)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)
1

Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
100%
Operations & Execution100% perform
2

Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
98%
General Responsibilities97% perform
3

Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
96%
General Responsibilities94% perform
4

Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
94%
General Responsibilities91% perform
5

Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
92%
General Responsibilities88% perform
6

Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
90%
General Responsibilities85% perform
7

Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
88%
General Responsibilities82% perform
8

Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
86%
General Responsibilities79% perform
9

Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
84%
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform
10

Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
82%
General Responsibilities73% perform

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Daily tasks focus primarily on operations & execution activities
  • 33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
  • Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

What career paths are available?

Career Pathways

0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase

Advancement Opportunities

Typical career progression paths from Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

💡 Career Planning Tips

  • Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
  • Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
  • Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
  • Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves

Is this career right for you?

Personality & Values Fit

Is This Career Right for You?

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials professionals typically have a RCA Holland code and highly value relationships

RRealistic
CConventional
AArtistic

Important Personality Traits

Work styles that contribute to success as a Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Attention to Detail

Critical

Attention to Detail

Importance Level4.62

Integrity

Critical

Integrity

Importance Level4.58

Dependability

Very Important

Dependability

Importance Level4.33

Independence

Very Important

Independence

Importance Level4.27

Stress Tolerance

Very Important

Stress Tolerance

Importance Level4.20

Innovation

Very Important

Innovation

Importance Level4.12

Complete Work Styles Profile

Attention to Detail
4.6
Integrity
4.6
Dependability
4.3
Independence
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.2
Innovation
4.1
Cooperation
4.0
Concern for Others
4.0
Persistence
3.9
Social Orientation
3.9

💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

  • While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
  • Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
  • Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
  • Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career

What education is required?

Education Level

High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED

Preparation Level

Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed

Experience Needed

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

📚 Education Requirement

Required Level:High school diploma or less

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.

Training:

Short demonstration or on-the-job training

💼 Experience Requirement

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

Common pathways to gain experience:

  • On-the-job training is typical
  • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
  • Basic skills development
1

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.

On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development

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