Dishwasher Salary in San Diego, CA
Dishwashers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $38,530 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,107 take-home, or $2,676 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,389
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- California income tax$531
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$501
- Take-home pay$32,107
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,380 | $17.01 | $29,743 | $2,479 |
| 25th percentile | $36,910 | $17.75 | $30,892 | $2,574 |
| Median (50th) | $38,530 | $18.52 | $32,107 | $2,676 |
| 75th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 | $35,049 | $2,921 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,560 | $21.42 | $36,633 | $3,053 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,530 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $32,107 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,696 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.6× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #52 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 |
| 52 | San Diego, CA | $38,530 | $32,107 | $28,696 |
*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 San Diego, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $38,530 a year, or about $18.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,910 and $42,450.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $38,530 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,107 a year ($2,676 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,031 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,696 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #52 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 92% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Cooks, Short Order — $37,300
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140