Dishwasher Salary in San Francisco, CA
Dishwashers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $42,100 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,787 take-home, or $2,899 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,872
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,610
- Medicare (1.45%)$610
- California income tax$673
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$547
- Take-home pay$34,787
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,980 | $18.26 | $31,695 | $2,641 |
| 25th percentile | $39,620 | $19.05 | $32,925 | $2,744 |
| Median (50th) | $42,100 | $20.24 | $34,787 | $2,899 |
| 75th percentile | $44,270 | $21.28 | $36,415 | $3,035 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,690 | $23.41 | $39,699 | $3,308 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,100 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $34,787 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,089 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #9 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $34,380 | $29,804 | $30,937 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,630 | $30,809 | $30,743 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $38,710 | $32,289 | $30,524 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $33,690 | $29,106 | $30,487 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $42,100 | $34,787 | $30,089 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $43,960
- Sacramento, CA — $36,930
- Riverside, CA — $36,710
- San Diego, CA — $38,530
- Los Angeles, CA — $37,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in San Francisco, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $42,100 a year, or about $20.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,620 and $44,270.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $42,100 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,787 a year ($2,899 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,221 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,089 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #9 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 90% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $68,970
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $49,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $46,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,030
- Cooks, Short Order — $45,790
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $44,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,870
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $41,970
- Food Preparation Worker — $41,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $39,810
- Bartender — $39,670