How to become a laundry machine operator

Official title: Laundry machine operators

Also called: Dry-cleaning machine operator, Laundry machine operator, Pressing machine operator (laundry)

Laundry machine operators operate laundry, dry-cleaning, pressing and fabric treatment machines in laundries and dry-cleaning establishments.

Main tasks

• Sorting articles for cleaning according to the type, colour, fabric and cleaning treatment required
• Placing sorted articles into receptacles and onto conveyor belts for moving to repair and cleaning areas
• Checking and removing stains from garments, replacing buttons and making minor repairs
• Loading and unloading washing machines, driers and extractors
• Adding cleaning agents and starches to articles
• Smoothing articles and guiding them through cleaning and pressing machines
• Stopping and starting machines to untangle, straighten and remove articles
• Placing articles on shelves and hanging articles for delivery and collection
• Packaging articles and preparing orders for despatch

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$20,000 a month
• About 387,500 people in 2025, and about 403,200 projected by 2028. (+4.1%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Weaving and knitting machine operators
• Fur and leather preparing machine operators
• Shoemaking and related machine operators
• Textile, fur and leather products machine operators not elsewhere classified
• Bleaching, dyeing and fabric cleaning machine operators
• Fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators

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Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a laundry machine operator?

Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a laundry machine operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026