Dishwashers · California

Dishwashers Salary in California

Dishwashers in California earn a median annual wage of $37,870 —8.8% above the national median of $34,810. That ranks CA #3 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$37,870
Median hourly
$18.21
Entry level (P10)
$35,160
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$45,640
90th percentile
Employment
74,160
4.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+8.8%
U.S. $34,810

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,160
$36,260
$37,870
$42,480
$35,160$37,870$45,640
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $37,870.

Employment is 1.33× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for dishwashers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$40,080$19.2712,6301.16
2District of Columbia$38,670$18.593,5801.66
3California$37,870$18.2174,1601.33
4Colorado$37,840$18.198,5000.96
5Hawaii$37,740$18.144,5202.35
6Massachusetts$37,190$17.8814,1001.26
7Illinois$36,180$17.3916,2500.87
8Oregon$36,040$17.336,6801.11
9Vermont$36,010$17.311,2801.38
10New Jersey$35,900$17.267,4500.57

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$36,080$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$44,880$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,980$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$39,350$35,320
Bartenders$36,220$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do dishwashers make in California?

The median annual wage for dishwashers in California is $37,870, or $18.21 per hour. That is 8.8% above the national median of $34,810.

What is the entry-level dishwashers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,160 per year ($16.90/hour). The 25th percentile is $36,260.

How many people work as dishwashers in California?

About 74,160 people work in this occupation in California, or 4.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for dishwashers?

California ranks #3 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.33x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays dishwashers the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $40,080 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($38,670) and California ($37,870).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes