SALARY · DISHWASHER

Dishwasher salary in 2026

Median pay, hourly rates, top-paying cities, and live dishwasher jobs from MAJC's coverage area. Numbers below combine U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with 12 active postings.

Median (national)

$30,830

$14.82/hr · BLS May 2024

Top 10 percent

$42K+

$20.34/hr effective

National pay for dishwashers

$30,830median, full year

About $14.82/hr. Top 10 percent earn $42K+.

BLS Occupation 35-9021Dishwashers, May 2024. Source

Dishwasher pay by city

MAJC-active metros with at least one disclosed dishwasher salary in the last 14 days. Median is across disclosed postings only; sample size noted per row.

City Active Median posted vs national
Houston 5 — — See 5 →
Miami 3 — — See 3 →

How dishwashers push pay above median

  • Volume + format leverage. High-cover-count concepts (200+ covers, multi-outlet hotels) pay more than small independents — same role, different scope.
  • Specialized knowledge. Wine or spirits certification, specific cuisine training, or technical systems (POS, inventory) all command premiums.
  • Bilingual fluency. English/Spanish in the U.S. hospitality market is consistently worth a meaningful bump.
  • Tenure + leadership. "Lead" or "Head" prefixes typically signal 15–30% over an "Associate" version of the same role.
  • Disclosed-salary postings. Filter MAJC for dishwasher jobs with disclosed pay — those tend to be the ones that compete on number, not vibes.

Top-paying live dishwasher jobs right now

Highest disclosed salaries across 12 active dishwasher postings.

Browse all 12 dishwasher jobs →

Frequently asked

What is the average dishwasher salary?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual pay for dishwashers is $30,830 ($14.82/hr) as of May 2024. The top 10% earn $42K or more.
How much does a dishwasher make per hour?
BLS reports a median hourly rate of $14.82/hr for dishwashers. Tipped roles (server, bartender, busser) can substantially exceed the base hourly with gratuities.
Which cities pay dishwashers the most?
Major metros (Miami, Houston, and high-tourist coastal cities) typically pay dishwashers 10–20% above the national median. See the city breakdown above for live disclosed rates.
What skills increase dishwasher pay the most?
In hospitality, the biggest pay drivers are: specialized cuisine or beverage knowledge, fluency in a second language (Spanish in the U.S.), high-volume service experience, and proven leadership of a team. POS proficiency (Toast, Tock, Resy) and inventory or P&L responsibility also push pay above median.
How do I find a dishwasher job that pays above median?
Filter MAJC's dishwasher listings by "Salary listed" to surface postings with disclosed pay, then sort by salary. Hotels and high-cover-count restaurants tend to disclose more often than smaller independents. Browse all 12 dishwasher listings below.