Dishwasher Salary in Seattle, WA
Dishwashers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $42,750 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,530 take-home, or $3,044 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$2,950
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,651
- Medicare (1.45%)$620
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$36,530
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $31,178 | $2,598 |
| 25th percentile | $37,600 | $18.08 | $32,392 | $2,699 |
| Median (50th) | $42,750 | $20.55 | $36,530 | $3,044 |
| 75th percentile | $45,650 | $21.95 | $38,860 | $3,238 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,400 | $23.75 | $41,873 | $3,489 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,750 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dishwasher's $36,530 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,870 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 1.2× the national concentration of dishwasher jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 Washington
- Spokane, WA — $36,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Seattle, WA?
The median dishwasher salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $42,750 a year, or about $20.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,600 and $45,650.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $42,750 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $36,530 a year ($3,044 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,870 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Chef and Head Cook — $80,330
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $61,610
- Bartender — $58,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $57,280
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,530
- Cooks, Short Order — $50,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,730
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $45,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $44,030
- Food Preparation Worker — $43,830
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $40,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,150