How much does a dishwasher make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical dishwasher in the United States makes $34,810 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A dishwasher scrapes plates, loads a commercial washer (and hand-washes some pots), then unloads and stores clean dishes. Between meal rushes, they sweep or mop, clean equipment, restock, and take out trash.
Did you know? Dishwashers may also unload food deliveries, stock supplies, set up the dining room, or help prepare food—not just wash dishes.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $26,200 and $42,860How do you become one?
In the US, dishwashers usually need no specific schooling or past experience; they learn cleaning and machine routines on the job. Some teens can work in restaurants from age 14, but strict rules limit younger workers’ hours and duties.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, experience, the kind of workplace (such as a restaurant or hotel), and location can affect a dishwasher’s pay. Jobs can also differ in hours and shifts, which changes how much someone earns overall.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($40,080), lowest in Mississippi ($26,300).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $26,200 | $34,810 | $42,860 | about 477,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,080 | about 13,000 |
| District of Columbia | $38,670 | about 4,000 |
| California | $37,870 | about 74,000 |
| Colorado | $37,840 | about 9,000 |
| Hawaii | $37,740 | about 5,000 |
Official definition: Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/35-9021.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/35-9021.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes359021.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/2a-child-labor-restaurants
- seasonaljobs.dol.gov/jobs/H-400-24323-480025
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY