Dishwasher Salary in Durham, NC
Dishwashers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $33,800 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,498 take-home, or $2,375 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,876
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- North Carolina income tax$840
- Take-home pay$28,498
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,180 | $12.59 | $22,633 | $1,886 |
| 25th percentile | $29,720 | $14.29 | $25,383 | $2,115 |
| Median (50th) | $33,800 | $16.25 | $28,498 | $2,375 |
| 75th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 | $30,377 | $2,531 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,810 | $18.66 | $32,324 | $2,694 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,800 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $28,498 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,208 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 Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Durham, NC | $33,800 | $28,498 | $29,208 |
*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 North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $31,860
- Charlotte, NC — $31,920
- Greensboro, NC — $29,760
- Raleigh, NC — $31,300
- Winston, NC — $29,050
- Wilmington, NC — $29,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Durham, NC?
The median dishwasher salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $33,800 a year, or about $16.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,720 and $36,260.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $33,800 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $28,498 a year ($2,375 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $840 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,208 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #34 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,970
- Bartender — $37,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,500
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,410