Dishwasher Salary in San Jose, CA
Dishwashers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $43,960 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,183 take-home, or $3,015 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$3,095
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,726
- Medicare (1.45%)$637
- California income tax$748
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$571
- Take-home pay$36,183
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,910 | $19.19 | $33,143 | $2,762 |
| 25th percentile | $40,720 | $19.58 | $33,751 | $2,813 |
| Median (50th) | $43,960 | $21.13 | $36,183 | $3,015 |
| 75th percentile | $45,630 | $21.94 | $37,436 | $3,120 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,570 | $23.83 | $40,341 | $3,362 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,960 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $36,183 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,767 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #3 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 |
*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 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
- Sacramento, CA — $36,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in San Jose, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $43,960 a year, or about $21.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,720 and $45,630.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $43,960 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,183 a year ($3,015 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,319 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,767 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #3 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 98% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $79,020
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $46,210
- Cooks, Short Order — $45,990
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $44,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $42,400
- Bartender — $42,270