Dishwasher Salary in Raleigh, NC
Dishwashers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $31,300 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,589 take-home, or $2,216 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,576
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$454
- North Carolina income tax$740
- Take-home pay$26,589
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 | $22,774 | $1,898 |
| 25th percentile | $29,230 | $14.05 | $25,009 | $2,084 |
| Median (50th) | $31,300 | $15.05 | $26,589 | $2,216 |
| 75th percentile | $35,560 | $17.10 | $29,842 | $2,487 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,450 | $18.00 | $31,286 | $2,607 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,300 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $26,589 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,089 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 Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #103 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 |
| 103 | Raleigh, NC | $31,300 | $26,589 | $27,089 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $33,800
- Asheville, NC — $31,860
- Charlotte, NC — $31,920
- Greensboro, NC — $29,760
- Winston, NC — $29,050
- Wilmington, NC — $29,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Raleigh, NC?
The median dishwasher salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $31,300 a year, or about $15.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,230 and $35,560.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $31,300 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,589 a year ($2,216 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $740 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,089 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #103 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 72% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,020
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,460
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Bartender — $36,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,860
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,470
- Cooks, Short Order — $31,200
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $29,890
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,150
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,080