Dishwasher Salary in Houston, TX
Dishwashers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $28,600 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,160 take-home, or $2,097 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,773
- Medicare (1.45%)$415
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,160
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dishwasher pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,910 | $10.53 | $19,653 | $1,638 |
| 25th percentile | $23,730 | $11.41 | $21,152 | $1,763 |
| Median (50th) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $25,160 | $2,097 |
| 75th percentile | $33,820 | $16.26 | $29,354 | $2,446 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,830 | $16.75 | $30,166 | $2,514 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,600 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $25,160 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,510 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #39 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 |
| 39 | Houston, TX | $28,600 | $25,160 | $25,510 |
*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.
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $35,360
- San Antonio, TX — $29,850
- Dallas, TX — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Houston, TX?
The median dishwasher salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $28,600 a year, or about $13.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,730 and $33,820.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $28,600 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $25,160 a year ($2,097 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,510 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #39 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $45,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,660
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,020
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,090
- Bartender — $22,770
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,080
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,850