Dishwasher Salary in Madison, WI
Dishwashers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $32,750 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,835 take-home, or $2,320 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,750
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,031
- Medicare (1.45%)$475
- Wisconsin income tax$660
- Take-home pay$27,835
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,100 | $10.63 | $19,549 | $1,629 |
| 25th percentile | $25,470 | $12.25 | $22,206 | $1,851 |
| Median (50th) | $32,750 | $15.75 | $27,835 | $2,320 |
| 75th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 | $30,926 | $2,577 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,970 | $20.66 | $35,597 | $2,966 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,750 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $27,835 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,611 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 Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | Madison, WI | $32,750 | $27,835 | $28,611 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $28,890
- Milwaukee, WI — $29,170
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Madison, WI?
The median dishwasher salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $32,750 a year, or about $15.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $25,470 and $36,820.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $32,750 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $27,835 a year ($2,320 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $660 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,611 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #56 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $42,960
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,440
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,940
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,110
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,820
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,640
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,000
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,710
- Bartender — $23,210