Career Overview
Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Also Known As
- Ironing Worker
- Pants Presser
- Presser
- Shirt Presser
Alternate Job Titles
- All-Around Presser
- Armhole Presser
- Automatic Presser
- Blocker
- Boarder
- Bobbin Presser
- Brim Presser
- Buffing Wheel Presser
- Bulk Folder
- Calender Machine Operator
- Clothes Ironer
- Clothes Presser
- Clothing Presser
- Coat Presser
- Creaser
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
- Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
- Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.
- Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
- Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.
- Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
- Identify and treat spots on garments.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Manual Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
- Finger Dexterity
- Multilimb Coordination
- Reaction Time
- Trunk Strength
- Extent Flexibility
- Rate Control
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Digital micrometers
- Electric fabric cutters
- Fabric cleaning brushes
- Fabric shears
- Flat pressers
- Guides
- Hand irons
- Handheld sprayers
- Heavy duty ironing boards
- Hoists
- Hot-head presses
- Hydraulic pressing machines
- Industrial sewing machines
- Measuring gauges
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $24,960 |
| Median | $33,880 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $41,410 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 26,830
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sewing Machine Operators
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $36,000
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $33,800
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $38,160
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,390
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $39,700
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.