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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Dishwasher Salary

Dishwashers earn a median $34,810 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$34,810
$16.74 per hour
Range
$26,200 – $42,860
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
477,450
across the U.S.
▲3.4%
Pay trend: The median for dishwashers in the U.S. rose from $33,670 (May 2024) to $34,810 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.0%.

What dishwashers do

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)
Openings per year
68,900

Employment of dishwashers is projected to shrink 1.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 68,900 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Dishwasher take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Dishwasher
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$30,150
per year · effective tax rate 13.4%
$2,512Monthly
$1,256Twice a month
$1,160Every 2 weeks
$14.50Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,997
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,158
  • Medicare (1.45%)$505
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$30,150

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$26,200$12.60$23,186
25th percentile$29,690$14.27$26,036
Median (50th)$34,810$16.74$30,150
75th percentile$37,440$18.00$32,263
90th percentile (top earners)$42,860$20.61$36,618

Best cities for dishwashers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$42,750$36,530$32,8707,910
2San Jose, CA$43,960$36,183$32,7673,940
3Kansas City, MO$34,800$29,444$31,8162,460
4Austin, TX$35,360$30,592$31,1953,670
5Nashville, TN$34,380$29,804$30,9373,050
6Las Vegas, NV$35,630$30,809$30,7439,610
7Denver, CO$38,710$32,289$30,5244,530
8Columbus, OH$33,690$29,106$30,4872,860
9San Francisco, CA$42,100$34,787$30,0899,530
10Phoenix, AZ$35,780$30,243$29,2737,530
11Hartford, CT$35,350$29,918$29,1182,450
12Chicago, IL$36,850$30,110$29,06511,910
13Sacramento, CA$36,930$30,907$28,9744,030
14Riverside, CA$36,710$30,742$28,8816,710
15St. Louis, MO$32,180$27,462$28,8803,720
16Providence, RI$34,640$29,331$28,8203,680
17San Diego, CA$38,530$32,107$28,6967,790
18Boston, MA$37,750$30,845$28,49010,540
19Detroit, MI$34,350$28,571$28,4864,840
20Washington, DC$37,010$30,863$28,34511,690
21Jacksonville, FL$32,150$28,013$28,1582,540
22Portland, OR$37,250$29,681$28,1543,580
23Cincinnati, OH$30,740$26,817$28,1193,000
24Minneapolis, MN$34,940$29,204$27,8605,940
25Charlotte, NC$31,920$27,063$27,8003,790

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Dishwasher salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $40,080+6.6%$34,384 $35,570 – $49,36012,630
District of Columbia $38,670+3.0%$32,097 $37,710 – $44,1903,580
California $37,870+1.1%$31,612 $35,160 – $45,64074,160
Colorado $37,840+1.9%$31,628 $30,900 – $45,3408,500
Hawaii $37,740+4.9%$31,088 $29,500 – $61,1604,520
Massachusetts $37,190−0.4%$30,423 $34,030 – $46,00014,100
Illinois $36,180+2.8%$29,605 $31,200 – $42,27016,250
Oregon $36,040+1.8%$28,814 $30,930 – $43,3306,680
Vermont $36,010−1.2%$30,342 $29,650 – $39,7701,280
New Jersey $35,900+3.6%$30,485 $32,220 – $42,8607,450
Delaware $35,780+14.5%$29,620 $31,200 – $39,5201,520
Maine $35,620+2.4%$29,526 $30,590 – $43,0002,940
Connecticut $35,550+1.7%$30,070 $34,010 – $40,0507,340
New York $35,450+0.1%$29,347 $32,240 – $45,52030,680
Arizona $35,130+0.8%$29,737 $31,470 – $39,43010,120
New Hampshire $34,960+4.7%$30,270 $27,290 – $43,5802,370
Nevada $34,920+2.9%$30,238 $27,570 – $48,54011,360
Minnesota $34,060+5.3%$28,544 $25,470 – $38,8008,710
Maryland $34,030+8.0%$28,270 $31,200 – $38,0409,310
Rhode Island $33,960−0.9%$28,810 $31,300 – $38,5502,790
Alaska $33,890−0.6%$29,411 $27,040 – $36,4401,300
Virginia $33,130+3.7%$27,709 $27,300 – $40,45012,520
Missouri $32,150+3.7%$27,439 $28,600 – $38,5807,200
Utah $31,830+5.6%$27,289 $21,940 – $37,8703,650
Michigan $31,300+8.0%$26,250 $25,960 – $37,93011,510
Florida $31,240+5.5%$27,281 $28,250 – $37,01040,480
Tennessee $30,530+3.2%$26,711 $22,900 – $38,5807,810
New Mexico $30,520+3.5%$26,335 $27,180 – $37,3003,250
North Carolina $30,340+4.1%$25,856 $23,540 – $37,32012,050
Montana $30,130+6.6%$25,730 $22,580 – $38,5502,120
North Dakota $29,980+1.1%$26,269 $22,570 – $38,440800
Pennsylvania $29,950+2.9%$25,325 $21,550 – $37,11019,570
Idaho $29,920+6.1%$25,743 $19,100 – $42,8602,730
Nebraska $29,740+3.8%$25,562 $28,080 – $37,1202,170
Georgia $29,730+1.7%$25,148 $21,220 – $36,59011,300
Texas $29,610+1.2%$25,972 $21,920 – $36,72033,630
Wyoming $29,600+3.5%$25,964 $22,660 – $39,1201,060
Ohio $29,520+1.8%$25,870 $23,150 – $36,67014,380
Indiana $29,480+4.1%$25,027 $21,840 – $36,6607,000
Iowa $29,300+8.9%$25,261 $20,720 – $36,0303,290
South Carolina $29,160−0.1%$25,018 $22,290 – $36,1507,550
Wisconsin $29,070+5.1%$25,033 $20,190 – $37,8308,190
Kentucky $29,060+3.3%$24,630 $21,330 – $36,2404,890
Alabama $28,930+6.2%$24,244 $21,810 – $35,8403,540
South Dakota $28,190+2.2%$24,824 $24,230 – $36,7501,240
Kansas $28,060+4.9%$23,922 $20,150 – $38,5802,480
Arkansas $27,540+1.7%$23,428 $23,830 – $35,0302,630
Oklahoma $27,390+3.1%$23,479 $21,080 – $33,9704,060
West Virginia $26,460+5.0%$22,750 $20,450 – $32,7601,640
Louisiana $26,440+13.7%$22,976 $19,820 – $33,2804,210
Mississippi $26,300+12.6%$22,948 $19,240 – $30,1902,880

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$33,980No formal educational credential+5.3%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credential+5.5%
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,200No formal educational credential+3.4%
Waiter and Waitress$35,230No formal educational credential+2.0%
Bartender$34,340No formal educational credential+5.0%
Food Preparation Worker$35,320No formal educational credential-3.0%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credential+4.5%
Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credential-5.2%
Cooks, Restaurant$37,390No formal educational credential+12.1%
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,450No formal educational credential+2.8%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dishwasher make?

The national median salary for dishwashers is $34,810 a year ($16.74 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $26,200 and the top 10% earn over $42,860. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays dishwashers the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $40,080. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many dishwashers are there in the U.S.?

About 477,450 people work as dishwashers nationwide.

All 40 cities