Dishwasher Salary in Chicago, IL
Dishwashers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $36,850 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,110 take-home, or $2,509 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,242
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,285
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- Illinois income tax$1,679
- Take-home pay$30,110
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dishwasher pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,350 | $15.07 | $25,963 | $2,164 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 | $28,594 | $2,383 |
| Median (50th) | $36,850 | $17.72 | $30,110 | $2,509 |
| 75th percentile | $38,720 | $18.62 | $31,520 | $2,627 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,070 | $21.19 | $35,554 | $2,963 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,850 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $30,110 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,065 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dishwasher jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $34,380 | $29,804 | $30,937 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,630 | $30,809 | $30,743 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $38,710 | $32,289 | $30,524 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $33,690 | $29,106 | $30,487 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $36,850 | $30,110 | $29,065 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
About the job: dishwashers
Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -1.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Chicago, IL?
The median dishwasher salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,850 a year, or about $17.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,840 and $38,720.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $36,850 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $30,110 a year ($2,509 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,679 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,065 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200