Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Press or shape articles by hand or machine.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $35,060 Median per year · $16.85/hr Most earn $27,180–$43,050

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.
  • Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications.
  • 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.
  • Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants.
  • Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons.
  • Press ties on small pressing machines.

Job outlook

United States
16% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 2,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Drycleaning and laundry services89.8%
  • Apparel manufacturing2.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Pressers usually need a high school diploma and about 1 to 2 years of related work experience, often gained in entry-level garment, laundry, or sewing jobs. It is an entry-level career for people who are willing to learn on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, ideally with some math and hands-on classes, because pressing requires measuring, following instructions, and handling equipment safely.

  2. Sewing Machine Operator

    6 months to 1 year

    Working on sewing lines teaches you how garments are put together, how fabrics behave, and how to work at a steady, accurate pace, which are all useful for pressing.

  3. Presser, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

    1 to 2 years of related experience before this job

    You press or shape clothing and textiles by hand or machine, using steam and heat to remove wrinkles and set the shape of finished garments.

Where it can lead

  1. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from doing the pressing to overseeing a team, checking quality, and keeping the line on schedule, which usually takes strong reliability and some leadership experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take sewing, family and consumer science, or textile classesThese classes teach fabric basics and how garments are made, which helps you understand what pressing is meant to do.
  • Get a part-time job at a laundry, dry cleaner, or clothing storeWorking around garments and finishing equipment gives you early hands-on experience that often counts toward pressing jobs.
  • Practice ironing and steaming at homePressing your own clothes and school uniforms builds the basic technique of heat, steam, and smoothing that employers look for.
  • Join a sewing or fashion club, or volunteer to help with costumesClub and volunteer work shows you how clothing is shaped and finished and gives you something to mention on job applications.
  • Learn basic workplace safetyPressing involves hot equipment and steam, so understanding safety habits early helps you stand out as a careful worker.

In college

  • Take textile, apparel, or fashion production coursesClasses on fabrics and garment construction give you a stronger understanding of how pressing fits into the full production process.
  • Work a campus job in a laundry, uniform service, or costume shopCampus jobs that involve finishing or pressing give you paid, hands-on experience that matches what employers want.
  • Seek a summer internship or job at a garment factory or dry cleanerA summer role in a production or finishing setting shows you how a real pressing operation runs and builds your work history.
  • Join a fashion, design, or sewing student organizationClubs connect you with people in the apparel industry and can lead to job leads and mentors.
  • Ask about safety or equipment training certificatesCertificates in workplace safety or equipment operation are often offered by schools or local employers and help you show you are job-ready.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for entry jobs in laundry, dry cleaning, alteration shops, or garment factories. Any of these gives you real pressing or finishing experience that employers value.
  • Learn to read care labels and fabric types. Knowing how different materials respond to heat and steam is a core part of this work.
  • Show you are reliable: attendance, following safety rules, and keeping a steady pace matter a lot in production settings.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

Related careers