Dishwasher Salary in Santa Cruz, CA
Dishwashers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median $37,380 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,244 take-home, or $2,604 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Santa Cruz, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,306
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,318
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- California income tax$485
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$486
- Take-home pay$31,244
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Santa Cruz, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,790 | $17.21 | $30,051 | $2,504 |
| 25th percentile | $36,640 | $17.62 | $30,689 | $2,557 |
| Median (50th) | $37,380 | $17.97 | $31,244 | $2,604 |
| 75th percentile | $38,800 | $18.65 | $32,310 | $2,693 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,520 | $21.40 | $36,603 | $3,050 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,380 buys in Santa Cruz, CA
Prices in Santa Cruz, CA are 9.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.64× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $31,244 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,431 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Santa Cruz, 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
Santa Cruz, CA ranks #61 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 |
| 61 | Santa Cruz, CA | $37,380 | $31,244 | $28,431 |
*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 Santa Cruz, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $37,380 a year, or about $17.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,640 and $38,800.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Santa Cruz, CA?
On the median $37,380 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,244 a year ($2,604 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $970 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 9.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,431 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Cruz, CA ranks #61 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Santa Cruz, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,298 a month ($4,214 for two bedrooms) — 127% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $48,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,560
- Cooks, Fast Food — $43,630
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,400
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,110
- Bartender — $36,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,930
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,640