How much does a dishwasher make?
The median dishwasher in the United States earns $34,810 per year, about $16.73 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all dishwashers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 35-9021.
Dishwasher salary range
Pay for dishwashers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $26,200 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $42,860. The average (mean) wage is $34,310, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $26,200 | $12.59 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,690 | $14.27 | |
| Median (50th) | $34,810 | $16.73 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 | |
| 90th percentile | $42,860 | $20.61 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for dishwashers (SOC 35-9021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Dishwasher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Dishwashers earn the most in Washington at $40,080 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $26,300. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,080 | 12,630 |
| District of Columbia | $38,670 | 3,580 |
| California | $37,870 | 74,160 |
| Colorado | $37,840 | 8,500 |
| Hawaii | $37,740 | 4,520 |
| Massachusetts | $37,190 | 14,100 |
| Illinois | $36,180 | 16,250 |
| Oregon | $36,040 | 6,680 |
| Vermont | $36,010 | 1,280 |
| New Jersey | $35,900 | 7,450 |
| Delaware | $35,780 | 1,520 |
| Maine | $35,620 | 2,940 |
| Connecticut | $35,550 | 7,340 |
| New York | $35,450 | 30,680 |
| Arizona | $35,130 | 10,120 |
| New Hampshire | $34,960 | 2,370 |
| Nevada | $34,920 | 11,360 |
| Minnesota | $34,060 | 8,710 |
| Maryland | $34,030 | 9,310 |
| Rhode Island | $33,960 | 2,790 |
| Alaska | $33,890 | 1,300 |
| Virginia | $33,130 | 12,520 |
| Missouri | $32,150 | 7,200 |
| Utah | $31,830 | 3,650 |
| Michigan | $31,300 | 11,510 |
| Florida | $31,240 | 40,480 |
| Tennessee | $30,530 | 7,810 |
| New Mexico | $30,520 | 3,250 |
| North Carolina | $30,340 | 12,050 |
| Montana | $30,130 | 2,120 |
| North Dakota | $29,980 | 800 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,950 | 19,570 |
| Idaho | $29,920 | 2,730 |
| Nebraska | $29,740 | 2,170 |
| Georgia | $29,730 | 11,300 |
| Texas | $29,610 | 33,630 |
| Wyoming | $29,600 | 1,060 |
| Ohio | $29,520 | 14,380 |
| Indiana | $29,480 | 7,000 |
| Iowa | $29,300 | 3,290 |
| South Carolina | $29,160 | 7,550 |
| Wisconsin | $29,070 | 8,190 |
| Kentucky | $29,060 | 4,890 |
| Alabama | $28,930 | 3,540 |
| South Dakota | $28,190 | 1,240 |
| Kansas | $28,060 | 2,480 |
| Arkansas | $27,540 | 2,630 |
| Oklahoma | $27,390 | 4,060 |
| West Virginia | $26,460 | 1,640 |
| Louisiana | $26,440 | 4,210 |
| Mississippi | $26,300 | 2,880 |
State median wages for dishwashers (SOC 35-9021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for dishwashers
The BLS projects employment of dishwashers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 480,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 475,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 68,900 openings a year for dishwashers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a dishwasher
The typical entry-level education for dishwashers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a dishwasher earns
Employer, region, seniority, and in many cases tips shape take-home pay. Fine dining, large venues, and high cost cities lift the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $40,080) and the lowest (Mississippi, $26,300) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 477,450 people work as dishwashers in the United States. At $34,810 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Dishwasher salary FAQ
How much does a dishwasher make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a dishwasher is $16.73. The middle half of dishwashers earn between $14.27 and $18.00 per hour.
What is the highest dishwasher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of dishwashers earn more than $42,860 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a dishwasher make a year?
The median annual salary for a dishwasher is $34,810. The average (mean) wage is $34,310, close to the median.
Is being a dishwasher a well paid job?
At $34,810 a year, a dishwasher earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 477,450 people work as dishwashers in the United States.
Which state pays dishwashers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for dishwashers at $40,080 a year. District of Columbia ($38,670) and California ($37,870) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a dishwasher a good career?
Employment of dishwashers is projected to shrink 1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 68,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a dishwasher?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for dishwashers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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