Dishwasher Salary in Boulder, CO
Dishwashers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $37,750 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,560 take-home, or $2,630 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,350
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,341
- Medicare (1.45%)$547
- Colorado income tax$953
- Take-home pay$31,560
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,540 | $16.13 | $28,362 | $2,364 |
| 25th percentile | $36,370 | $17.49 | $30,511 | $2,543 |
| Median (50th) | $37,750 | $18.15 | $31,560 | $2,630 |
| 75th percentile | $42,780 | $20.57 | $35,380 | $2,948 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,380 | $24.70 | $41,912 | $3,493 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,750 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $31,560 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,999 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 Boulder, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #17 of 156 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $45,930 | $37,094 | $33,909 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $37,110 | $31,417 | $31,780 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $36,330 | $31,371 | $31,263 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $33,810 | $28,688 | $31,212 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $37,750 | $31,560 | $29,999 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 156 metros →
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Denver, CO — $38,710
- Fort Collins, CO — $35,800
- Colorado Springs, CO — $35,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Boulder, CO?
The median dishwasher salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $37,750 a year, or about $18.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,370 and $42,780.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $37,750 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $31,560 a year ($2,630 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $953 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,999 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #17 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 68% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,020
- Waiter and Waitress — $49,870
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,020
- Bartender — $42,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,220
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,690
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,930
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $38,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $37,460
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,250
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,190