Dishwasher Salary in Salinas, CA
Dishwashers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median $37,350 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,222 take-home, or $2,602 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Salinas, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,302
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,316
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- California income tax$483
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$486
- Take-home pay$31,222
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Salinas, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,760 | $17.19 | $30,029 | $2,502 |
| 25th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 | $30,471 | $2,539 |
| Median (50th) | $37,350 | $17.96 | $31,222 | $2,602 |
| 75th percentile | $42,690 | $20.52 | $35,230 | $2,936 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,860 | $22.53 | $38,359 | $3,197 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,350 buys in Salinas, CA
Prices in Salinas, CA are 9.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.46× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $31,222 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,633 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Salinas, CA has 1.7× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Salinas, CA ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | Salinas, CA | $37,350 | $31,222 | $28,633 |
*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
- Modesto, CA — $36,810
- Napa, CA — $39,930
- Visalia, CA — $34,750
- Vallejo, CA — $37,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Salinas, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Salinas, CA metro area is $37,350 a year, or about $17.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,350 and $42,690.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Salinas, CA?
On the median $37,350 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,222 a year ($2,602 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $969 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Salinas, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 9.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,633 would in a typical U.S. city. Salinas, CA ranks #55 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Salinas, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salinas, CA is $2,232 a month ($2,684 for two bedrooms) — 86% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,260
- Cooks, Fast Food — $43,120
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,480
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,380
- Bartender — $36,350
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,540