Median Salary
$34,810
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$16.74
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$42,860
entry level starts ~$26,200
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 477,000 employed
How much does a Dishwasher make?
Dishwashers in the United States bring home a median salary of $34,810 a year, or around $16.74 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $26,200, while the top 10% earn $42,860.
That is $26,580 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Dishwasher salary range by percentile
Half of all Dishwashers earn between $29,690 and $37,440 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,200 | $12.60 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $29,690 | $14.27 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $34,810 | $16.74 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,860 | $20.61 |
|
Highest-paying states for Dishwasher
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Dishwasher pay at $40,080 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($38,670) and California ($37,870). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $26,300 — a gap of $13,780 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Dishwasher salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $40,080District of Columbia $38,670California $37,870Colorado $37,840Hawaii $37,740Massachusetts $37,190Illinois $36,180Oregon $36,040Vermont $36,010New Jersey $35,900Delaware $35,780Maine $35,620Connecticut $35,550New York $35,450Arizona $35,130New Hampshire $34,960Nevada $34,920Minnesota $34,060Maryland $34,030Rhode Island $33,960Alaska $33,890Virginia $33,130Missouri $32,150Utah $31,830Michigan $31,300Florida $31,240Tennessee $30,530New Mexico $30,520North Carolina $30,340Montana $30,130North Dakota $29,980Pennsylvania $29,950Idaho $29,920Nebraska $29,740Georgia $29,730Texas $29,610Wyoming $29,600Ohio $29,520Indiana $29,480Iowa $29,300South Carolina $29,160Wisconsin $29,070Kentucky $29,060Alabama $28,930South Dakota $28,190Kansas $28,060Arkansas $27,540Oklahoma $27,390West Virginia $26,460Louisiana $26,440Mississippi $26,300
Workforce and education
About 477,000 people work as Dishwashers in the United States. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dishwasher make in the United States?
The median Dishwasher salary in the United States is $34,810 per year, or about $16.74 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $26,200, while the top 10% of earners make $42,860 or more.
How does Dishwasher pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Dishwasher median of $34,810 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Dishwashers the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Dishwashers, with a median salary of $40,080 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Dishwasher?
Becoming a Dishwasher typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Dishwashers work in the United States?
About 477,000 people were employed as Dishwashers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other food service roles with similar pay.
$37,690
median pay · 19,000 employed
$37,390
median pay · 1,410,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed
$37,450
median pay · 441,000 employed
$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed
$35,320
median pay · 894,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.