Garment Pressers
Garment pressers use specialized machines and hand irons to remove wrinkles, shape clothing, and give garments their final polished look before they reach customers. You'll work with steam presses, hydraulic machines, and heated forms to handle everything from everyday clothes to delicate pleated items, selecting the right equipment based on each fabric's needs. This hands-on job combines technical skills with attention to detail, and you'll also package and prepare finished items for delivery. Many pressers work in dry cleaning businesses, clothing manufacturers, or textile facilities where teamwork and quality control are essential.
Did you know?
The role requires prolonged standing, repetitive hand movements, and exposure to heat from pressing equipment, which can lead to fatigue and potential musculoskeletal issues.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$32,100 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Things to consider
Limited Domestic Manufacturing Opportunities
Most clothing production has moved overseas, resulting in fewer traditional manufacturing jobs and increased competition for remaining positions in the US market.
Skill Diversification for Career Advancement
Expanding skills to include alterations, custom tailoring, or specialized finishing techniques can improve job security and earning potential in niche markets.
Key responsibilities
Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.
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.
Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.