Dishwasher Salary in Modesto, CA
Dishwashers in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median $36,810 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,817 take-home, or $2,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Modesto, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,237
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,282
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- California income tax$462
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$479
- Take-home pay$30,817
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Modesto, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,010 | $16.83 | $29,466 | $2,455 |
| 25th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,059 | $2,505 |
| Median (50th) | $36,810 | $17.70 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 75th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 | $31,807 | $2,651 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,100 | $20.72 | $35,537 | $2,961 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,810 buys in Modesto, CA
Prices in Modesto, CA are 4.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.08× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $30,817 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,601 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 Modesto, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Modesto, CA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Modesto, CA | $36,810 | $30,817 | $29,601 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $43,960
- San Francisco, CA — $42,100
- Santa Rosa, CA — $38,810
- Bakersfield, CA — $35,720
- Napa, CA — $39,930
- Visalia, CA — $34,750
- Vallejo, CA — $37,910
- Sacramento, CA — $36,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Modesto, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Modesto, CA metro area is $36,810 a year, or about $17.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,800 and $38,130.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Modesto, CA?
On the median $36,810 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,817 a year ($2,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $940 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Modesto, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 4.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,601 would in a typical U.S. city. Modesto, CA ranks #23 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Modesto, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Modesto, CA is $1,356 a month ($1,758 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Modesto, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,630
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,510
- Cooks, Restaurant — $41,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,450
- Bartender — $35,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,870