How to become a Drycleaner

Cleans clothing, garments, upholstery and other fabrics using drycleaning agents and machines.

Main tasks

• Inspects clothing, garments, upholstery and other fabrics for stains, damage and special care instructions
• Sorts and separates items based on colour, fabric and cleaning requirements
• Treats stains and spots using appropriate cleaning agents
• Loads items into dry or wet cleaning machines, ensuring proper weight and balance
• Adds cleaning agents and solvents to cleaning machines according to manufacturer instructions
• Operates dry or wet cleaning machines to remove dirt, stains and odours from clothing and fabrics
• Removes cleaned clothing and fabrics from cleaning machines, and inspects for any remaining stains or damage
• Packages and prepares cleaned clothing and fabrics for return to customers
• May repair minor damage to clothing, such as loose buttons or broken zippers

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Dry Cleaning Operations (MST30922)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $60,008 a year
• About 14,200 people work in this job group now, and about 14,800 are projected by 2035. (+4.1%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Laundry Worker
• Commercial Housekeeper
• Commercial Cleaner
• Domestic Cleaner
• Domestic Housekeeper
• Vehicle Detailer

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Drycleaner?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Dry Cleaning Operations.

How much does a Drycleaner earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $60,008 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Drycleaner a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 14,200 to about 14,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Drycleaner?

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Dry Cleaning Operations.

Will AI change the work of a Drycleaner?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04