Dishwashers Salary
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 477K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$34,810
Median hourly
$17
Average annual
$34,310
Typical range
$26,200–$42,860
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Dishwashers is $34,810 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $17 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils..
Most earn between $26,200 and $42,860 a year. There are roughly 477K people employed as dishwashers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Dishwashers.
- Hourly
- $16.74
- Daily
- $134
- Weekly
- $669
- Bi-weekly
- $1,339
- Monthly
- $2,901
- Annual
- $34,810
$34,810 a year is around the 50th percentile for Dishwasherss. The median is $34,810.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$40,080
- 2District of Columbia$38,670
- 3California$37,870
- 4Colorado$37,840
- 5Hawaii$37,740
- 6Massachusetts$37,190
- 7Illinois$36,180
- 8Oregon$36,040
- 9Vermont$36,010
- 10New Jersey$35,900
- 11Delaware$35,780
- 12Maine$35,620
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kahului-Wailuku, HI$45,930
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,960
- 3Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$42,750
- 4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$42,100
- 5Napa, CA$39,930
- 6Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$38,910
- 7Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$38,810
- 8Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$38,710
- 9San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$38,530
- 10Vallejo, CA$37,910
- 11Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$37,750
- 12Boulder, CO$37,750
Related job titles
Employers advertise Dishwashers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890
- Food Preparation Workers$35,320
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,840
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$43,530
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,510
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$31,200
What a Dishwashers does
- Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand.
- Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.
- Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
- Sweep or scrub floors.
- Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition.
- Clean garbage cans with water or steam.
- Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks.
- Receive and store supplies.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dishwashers make?
- The median annual wage for Dishwashers is $34,810 ($17 per hour). Pay ranges from about $26,200 at the 10th percentile to $42,860 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Dishwashers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $34,310, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Dishwasherss the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $40,080.
- Is Dishwashers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 477K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Dishwashers do?
- Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand.; Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.; Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas..