Ironing provides a crisp and professional look for clothing.
Despite the wide availability of synthetic and wrinkle-free fabrics, clothing continues to require a touch of ironing, and cotton clothing typically needs more than a touch from an iron. Professionals providing pressing and ironing services work in several career fields, including dry cleaning and tailoring and seamstress shops. Workers at these establishments assist the wrinkle-challenged in arriving at work looking sharp and professional in freshly ironed clothing. Salaries for professionals involved in ironing and pressing vary widely with the type of service.
Part-Time Employment
Young professionals, stay-at-home parents with small children, and those with the motivation to earn supplemental funds take in ironing at home. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics fails to record the annual salary for their efforts, the supplemental labor force also offers ironing services. Ironing services charge between $1 and $5 per item and they profit through the volume of work done during the day.
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Professional Pleaters and Pressers
Commercial terms for jobs involving ironing include pleaters and pressers. Pleaters work with various types of fashion designs and home decor. Waist pleaters, for instance, tape the pleat design for skirts and then press the pleats, or folds, in place. Drapery pleaters and pressers complete the look for window coverings. Both occupations work in the garment industry. Fewer than 10,000 people in the United States labor in these occupations, earning an average hourly pay of $9.19 and an annual mean wage of $19,102, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning service fees include pressing. Businesses offering ironing, or pressing, charge a fee per item based on the difficulty of the job and the type of fabric. Fees for sheets, tablecloths, bedspreads and duvets top the fee chart based on the size of the item and the difficulty in keeping the large surface free from winkles during the pressing process. Ruffled tuxedo shirts require additional time to press and cost more compared to traditional dress shirts. Charges include the cost of the hanger, although some companies offer a discount for customers who recycle hangers. Fees also include polybags to keep items clean. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the annual salary of dry cleaner and pressing workers as $19,540 in May 2010.
Valet Work
A valet works as a personal attendant. The exact job duties vary with the person requiring home services, but most valets organize personal activities related to the home, much like a personal secretary for dressing, personal hygiene and personal appearance. Valets press and iron clothing for the person or the family. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average salary in 2010 as $20,360, or $11.09 an hour, for this occupation.
Coin Laundry
Coin laundries typically offer fluff and fold, washing, drying, pressing and ironing services. Firms assess a price per pound for washing and drying, but assess a fee per item for ironing. The Coin Laundry Association, representing businesses with commercial-grade, self-service laundry equipment, reported in 2006 that coin laundries earned a cash flow between $15,000 and $200,000 annually, depending on the business hours and the geographic location. The association notes that coin laundries also include dry cleaning and washing services, including ironing, and these services increase profits for the business.
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