Dishwasher Salary in Des Moines, IA
Dishwashers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $30,450 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,141 take-home, or $2,178 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,474
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,888
- Medicare (1.45%)$442
- Iowa income tax$505
- Take-home pay$26,141
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,510 | $10.34 | $19,158 | $1,596 |
| 25th percentile | $27,810 | $13.37 | $24,107 | $2,009 |
| Median (50th) | $30,450 | $14.64 | $26,141 | $2,178 |
| 75th percentile | $35,630 | $17.13 | $30,107 | $2,509 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,700 | $17.64 | $30,926 | $2,577 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,450 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $26,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,507 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 less concentrated in Des Moines, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #58 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 |
| 58 | Des Moines, IA | $30,450 | $26,141 | $28,507 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 156 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Des Moines, IA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $30,450 a year, or about $14.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,810 and $35,630.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $30,450 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $26,141 a year ($2,178 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $505 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,507 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #58 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Chef and Head Cook — $51,210
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,070
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,790
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,270
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,730
- Bartender — $22,340
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,410