Dishwasher Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Dishwashers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $30,520 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,832 take-home, or $2,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,482
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,892
- Medicare (1.45%)$443
- Indiana income tax$871
- Take-home pay$25,832
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $596 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,236 ($2,103 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dishwasher pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,350 | $11.23 | $20,179 | $1,682 |
| 25th percentile | $28,900 | $13.89 | $24,578 | $2,048 |
| Median (50th) | $30,520 | $14.67 | $25,832 | $2,153 |
| 75th percentile | $35,580 | $17.11 | $29,748 | $2,479 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,800 | $17.69 | $30,693 | $2,558 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,520 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $25,832 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,994 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 less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,520 | $25,832 | $26,994 |
*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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median dishwasher salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $30,520 a year, or about $14.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,900 and $35,580.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $30,520 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $25,832 a year ($2,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $871 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,994 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #33 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,590
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,610
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,350
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,490
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,040
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,110
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,470
- Bartender — $22,880