Dishwasher Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Dishwashers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $33,270 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,891 take-home, or $2,324 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,812
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,063
- Medicare (1.45%)$482
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,021
- Take-home pay$27,891
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,244 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $26,647 ($2,221 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,770 | $11.43 | $20,455 | $1,705 |
| 25th percentile | $30,010 | $14.43 | $25,372 | $2,114 |
| Median (50th) | $33,270 | $16.00 | $27,891 | $2,324 |
| 75th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 | $30,202 | $2,517 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,240 | $18.87 | $32,505 | $2,709 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,270 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $27,891 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,196 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,270 | $27,891 | $27,196 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $30,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $33,270 a year, or about $16.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,010 and $36,260.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $33,270 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $27,891 a year ($2,324 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,021 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,196 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #31 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,570
- Bartender — $36,040
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,300
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $32,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,220
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,220