Dishwasher Salary in Denver, CO
Dishwashers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $38,710 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,289 take-home, or $2,691 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,465
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,400
- Medicare (1.45%)$561
- Colorado income tax$995
- Take-home pay$32,289
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,850 | $14.83 | $26,319 | $2,193 |
| 25th percentile | $37,010 | $17.79 | $30,997 | $2,583 |
| Median (50th) | $38,710 | $18.61 | $32,289 | $2,691 |
| 75th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 | $35,273 | $2,939 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,340 | $21.80 | $37,324 | $3,110 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,710 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $32,289 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,524 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $38,710 | $32,289 | $30,524 |
*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
- Boulder, CO — $37,750
- Fort Collins, CO — $35,800
- Colorado Springs, CO — $35,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Denver, CO?
The median dishwasher salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $38,710 a year, or about $18.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,010 and $42,640.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $38,710 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $32,289 a year ($2,691 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $995 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,524 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #12 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 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 Denver, CO
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $52,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,070
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,370
- Cooks, Short Order — $44,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $39,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,470
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,530
- Bartender — $37,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $37,070
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $36,880