Dishwasher Salary in St. Louis, MO
Dishwashers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $32,180 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,462 take-home, or $2,288 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,682
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,995
- Medicare (1.45%)$467
- Missouri income tax$575
- Take-home pay$27,462
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $322 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,140 ($2,262 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,970 | $14.41 | $25,790 | $2,149 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,720 | $2,227 |
| Median (50th) | $32,180 | $15.47 | $27,462 | $2,288 |
| 75th percentile | $36,130 | $17.37 | $30,450 | $2,537 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 | $32,023 | $2,669 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,180 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $27,462 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,880 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | St. Louis, MO | $32,180 | $27,462 | $28,880 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $34,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in St. Louis, MO?
The median dishwasher salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $32,180 a year, or about $15.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $36,130.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $32,180 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $27,462 a year ($2,288 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $575 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,880 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #15 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,690
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,340
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,400
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,860