Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Dishwashers play a key support role in keeping kitchens and food operations running smoothly. Nationally, this occupation employs about 478,000 workers, indicating a substantial number of positions across the country. The national median annual salary is $33,670, and employment is projected to grow by 0.2%, with about 77,000 annual openings. This combination of a large workforce and many openings suggests frequent hiring activity, which can be important for entry into the labor market or for people seeking steady, hands-on work. Typical entry into this field does not require a formal educational credential, making it accessible to a wide range of job seekers, including students and career changers. The role also draws on a mix of physical, mechanical, and interpersonal skills, which may appeal to individuals who prefer active, practical work. Overall, dishwashing can offer a straightforward path into the workplace with opportunities available in many locations.
Dishwashers earn a national median annual salary of $33,670. Earnings vary by location, and several states offer higher median pay than the national level. Washington stands out among the highlighted states with a median salary of $40,080, while California and Colorado offer $37,870 and $37,840, respectively. Massachusetts has a median of $37,190 and New York $35,450. Among metro areas, some pay levels are higher still: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $43,960, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $42,100. Other major metros such as Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV fall in the upper $30,000 range. These differences show that location choice can significantly influence earning potential for dishwashers, especially in certain California metros and selected states with higher median wages.
Dishwasher employment is sizable, with about 478,000 jobs nationally. Projected employment growth for this occupation is 0.2%. While this is a modest rate, there are still an estimated 77,000 annual openings. The combination of a large existing workforce and many yearly openings indicates ongoing demand, which can be important for job seekers who prioritize the availability of positions. The consistent growth rate of 0.2% also appears across the top states and metro areas highlighted, suggesting a relatively stable projected trend in multiple regions. For individuals seeking work that can be entered without a formal educational credential, these employment and openings figures may signal a reasonably accessible entry point into the job market. People exploring related paths might also consider similar occupations such as laundry and dry-cleaning workers, building cleaning workers (all other), cleaners of vehicles and equipment, textile, apparel, and furnishings workers (all other), or janitors and cleaners (except maids and housekeeping cleaners).
Location plays a meaningful role in both opportunity and pay for dishwashers. Among states, California has the largest employment level listed, with 74,160 dishwasher jobs and a median salary of $37,870, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show notable opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, with median salaries of $37,190 and $35,450 and employment of 14,100 and 30,680, respectively. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, each with projected growth of 0.2%, and median salaries near or above $37,840, including $40,080 in Washington. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $43,960. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 25,580. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each combining mid-to-upper $30,000s or $40,000+ salaries with solid opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for dishwashers is “No formal educational credential,” which makes this career accessible to individuals who may not have completed traditional schooling or who are looking to enter the workforce quickly. Instead of formal education, success in this field is closely linked to a set of practical skills. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities support the hands-on, active nature of the work. Mechanical skills can be useful around equipment and systems commonly associated with dishwashing environments. Interpersonal and customer service skills can help in working effectively with coworkers and others. Additional skills such as project management, science, leadership, creativity and innovation, and mathematics round out the broader skill profile, offering a foundation that can be valuable for performance and potential advancement. People considering this path can focus on developing these abilities through work experience and on-the-job learning rather than formal academic programs.
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