Dishwasher Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Dishwashers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $37,580 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,394 take-home, or $2,616 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,330
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,330
- Medicare (1.45%)$545
- California income tax$493
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$489
- Take-home pay$31,394
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dishwasher pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,480 | $17.06 | $29,818 | $2,485 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 | $30,509 | $2,542 |
| Median (50th) | $37,580 | $18.07 | $31,394 | $2,616 |
| 75th percentile | $39,170 | $18.83 | $32,588 | $2,716 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,890 | $22.06 | $37,631 | $3,136 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,580 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $31,394 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,644 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,580 | $31,394 | $27,644 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $43,960
- San Francisco, CA — $42,100
- Sacramento, CA — $36,930
- Riverside, CA — $36,710
- San Diego, CA — $38,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $37,580 a year, or about $18.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,400 and $39,170.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $37,580 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,394 a year ($2,616 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $981 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,644 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #27 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,850