Dishwasher Salary in Kansas City, MO
Dishwashers in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $34,800 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,444 take-home, or $2,454 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,996
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,158
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- Missouri income tax$698
- Take-home pay$29,444
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Dishwasher pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,470 | $13.21 | $23,878 | $1,990 |
| 25th percentile | $29,610 | $14.24 | $25,517 | $2,126 |
| Median (50th) | $34,800 | $16.73 | $29,444 | $2,454 |
| 75th percentile | $36,480 | $17.54 | $30,714 | $2,560 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,860 | $18.68 | $32,515 | $2,710 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,800 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $29,444 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,816 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 Kansas City, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #4 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 |
*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 Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $30,680
- St. Louis, MO — $32,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Kansas City, MO?
The median dishwasher salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $34,800 a year, or about $16.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,610 and $36,480.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $34,800 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $29,444 a year ($2,454 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $698 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,816 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #4 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,010
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,620
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,230
- Bartender — $30,300
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,170
- Cooks, Short Order — $29,810
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,560