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Dishwasher: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$34,810median pay per year, or $16.73 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $26,200lowest 10% earn less
  2. $29,69025th percentile
  3. $34,810median
  4. $37,44075th percentile
  5. $42,860top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Dishwashers earned a median of $16.73 an hour in May 2025[1]. BLS lists no formal education as the typical entry requirement[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-1%[5]
Openings per year
68,900[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[2]

How much do dishwashers make?

In May 2025 the median pay for dishwashers was $34,810 a year, or $16.73 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $34,310 a year, or $16.49 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $26,200 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $29,690[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $37,440, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $42,860[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $12.59 and the 90th was $20.61[8]. BLS publishes percentile wages and not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefit costs[10].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $40,080, then the District of Columbia at $38,670 and California at $37,870[11]. Mississippi was lowest on the list at $26,300[11].

California had the most jobs at 74,160, followed by Florida at 40,480 and Texas at 33,630[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kahului-Wailuku, HI had the highest median at $45,930[13]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was next at $43,960[13]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs at 27,520, with a median of $37,580[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$40,08012,630
District of Columbia$38,6703,580
California$37,87074,160
Colorado$37,8408,500
Hawaii$37,7404,520
Massachusetts$37,19014,100
Illinois$36,18016,250
Oregon$36,0406,680
Vermont$36,0101,280
New Jersey$35,9007,450
Delaware$35,7801,520
Maine$35,6202,940
Connecticut$35,5507,340
New York$35,45030,680
Arizona$35,13010,120
New Hampshire$34,9602,370
Nevada$34,92011,360
Minnesota$34,0608,710
Maryland$34,0309,310
Rhode Island$33,9602,790
Alaska$33,8901,300
Virginia$33,13012,520
Missouri$32,1507,200
Utah$31,8303,650
Michigan$31,30011,510
Florida$31,24040,480
Tennessee$30,5307,810
New Mexico$30,5203,250
North Carolina$30,34012,050
Montana$30,1302,120
North Dakota$29,980800
Pennsylvania$29,95019,570
Idaho$29,9202,730
Nebraska$29,7402,170
Georgia$29,73011,300
Texas$29,61033,630
Wyoming$29,6001,060
Ohio$29,52014,380
Indiana$29,4807,000
Iowa$29,3003,290
South Carolina$29,1607,550
Wisconsin$29,0708,190
Kentucky$29,0604,890
Alabama$28,9303,540
South Dakota$28,1901,240
Kansas$28,0602,480
Arkansas$27,5402,630
Oklahoma$27,3904,060
West Virginia$26,4601,640
Louisiana$26,4404,210
Mississippi$26,3002,880

How to become a dishwasher

The path in is short, according to BLS.

In an ONET survey of 31 workers in this job, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required and 43% said less than a high school diploma[15]. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[16].

What dishwashers do

O*NET describes the job as cleaning dishes, kitchen and food preparation equipment, and utensils[17]. Common tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include dish machine operator, dish room worker, kitchen helper and kitchen steward[19].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of dishwashers to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 480,400 to 475,600 jobs[5]. For all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth[20]. These counts include self-employed workers[5], and 0.2% of dishwashers were self-employed in 2025[21].

Even so, many jobs come open. BLS projects about 68,900 openings a year, including workers who leave the job or move to other occupations and not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 7.2% of workers leave the labor force and 7.4% move to a different occupation[22].

The projection count of 480,400 is higher than the 477,450 wage and salary jobs counted by OEWS in May 2025[23]. The two sources measure employment differently.

Is it a good fit?

The median pay of $34,810 was below the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][4]. The entry bar is low, with no formal education and short-term training[2]. Employment is projected to dip slightly, but openings are frequent[5][6]. The job may suit people who want to start work quickly and are comfortable with cleaning and kitchen tasks[2][18].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dishwasher make an hour?
The median was $16.73 an hour and the average was $16.49 in May 2025[1][7].
What education do you need to be a dishwasher?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical, plus short-term on-the-job training[2].
Is dishwasher a job in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035[5]. About 68,900 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for dishwashers?
Washington, with a median of $40,080 a year[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dishwashers in the US was $34,810 per year and $16.73 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dishwashers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dishwashers: 10th percentile $26,200, 25th percentile $29,690, 75th percentile $37,440, 90th percentile $42,860. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dishwashers is projected to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 480,400 to 475,600 jobs (a change of -4,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 68,900 openings for Dishwashers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dishwashers was $34,310 per year and $16.49 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dishwashers: 10th percentile $12.59, 25th percentile $14.27, 75th percentile $18.00, 90th percentile $20.61. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Dishwashers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dishwashers jobs: California 74,160; Florida 40,480; Texas 33,630; New York 30,680; Pennsylvania 19,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Dishwashers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kahului-Wailuku, HI $45,930; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,960; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $42,750; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $42,100; Napa, CA $39,930; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $38,910; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $38,810; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dishwashers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 27,520 (median $37,580); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 25,580 (median $35,670); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 12,240 (median $31,480); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 11,910 (median $36,850); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 11,690 (median $37,010); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 10,540 (median $37,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 35-9021.00 survey of workers (31 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Less than a High School Diploma 43% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 35-9021.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Dishwashers. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Dishwashers. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 35-9021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Busser, Dish Machine Operator (DMO), Dish Room Worker, Dish Runner, Dish Technician (Dish Tech), Dishwasher, Kitchen Helper, Kitchen Steward. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Dishwashers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dishwashers: 7.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 477,450 people were employed as Dishwashers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.