Dishwasher Salary in Santa Maria, CA
Dishwashers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median $37,290 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,177 take-home, or $2,598 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Santa Maria, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,295
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,312
- Medicare (1.45%)$541
- California income tax$481
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$485
- Take-home pay$31,177
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Santa Maria, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,550 | $17.09 | $29,871 | $2,489 |
| 25th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 | $30,359 | $2,530 |
| Median (50th) | $37,290 | $17.93 | $31,177 | $2,598 |
| 75th percentile | $39,370 | $18.93 | $32,738 | $2,728 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,480 | $21.38 | $36,573 | $3,048 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,290 buys in Santa Maria, CA
Prices in Santa Maria, CA are 8.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $31,177 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,656 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 Maria, CA has 1.9× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Santa Maria, CA ranks #54 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 |
| 54 | Santa Maria, CA | $37,290 | $31,177 | $28,656 |
*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 Maria, CA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $37,290 a year, or about $17.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,200 and $39,370.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Santa Maria, CA?
On the median $37,290 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,177 a year ($2,598 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $966 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Santa Maria, CA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 8.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,656 would in a typical U.S. city. Santa Maria, CA ranks #54 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Santa Maria, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Santa Maria, CA is $2,746 a month ($3,124 for two bedrooms) — 106% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Santa Maria, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,060
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,320
- Cooks, Restaurant — $43,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,940
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,700
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,740
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,470
- Bartender — $35,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,620
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,110