Dishwashers Career, Salary and Skills
Dishwashers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $34,810 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 477,450. Wage data is published for 444 locations.
Occupation description
Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.
O*NET code
35-9021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$34,810
Hourly median
$16.73
Employment
477,450
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$26,200
10th
$29,690
25th
$34,810
Median
$37,440
75th
$42,860
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 2.88 | 2.00 |
| Coordination | 2.75 | 2.00 |
| Time Management | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Active Listening | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Speaking | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Monitoring | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.38 | 2.00 |
Typical tasks
- Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand.
- Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition.
- Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.
- Sweep or scrub floors.
- Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars.
- Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving.
- Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
- Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks.
Technology
- Microsoft Windows
Dishwashers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Dishwashers Salary in CAMedian $37,870 · Employment 74,160
- Dishwashers Salary in FLMedian $31,240 · Employment 40,480
- Dishwashers Salary in TXMedian $29,610 · Employment 33,630
- Dishwashers Salary in NYMedian $35,450 · Employment 30,680
- Dishwashers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $37,580 · Employment 27,520
- Dishwashers Salary in New York, NYMedian $35,670 · Employment 25,580
- Dishwashers Salary in PAMedian $29,950 · Employment 19,570
- Dishwashers Salary in ILMedian $36,180 · Employment 16,250
- Dishwashers Salary in OHMedian $29,520 · Employment 14,380
- Dishwashers Salary in MAMedian $37,190 · Employment 14,100
- Dishwashers Salary in WAMedian $40,080 · Employment 12,630
- Dishwashers Salary in VAMedian $33,130 · Employment 12,520
Related careers
- Recycling and Reclamation WorkersNational median $40,240
- Cooks, Fast FoodNational median $30,890
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $48,990
- Helpers--Production WorkersNational median $39,070
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNational median $40,240
- Machine Feeders and OffbearersNational median $41,220
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersNational median $41,590
- Packers and Packagers, HandNational median $36,280
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.