Dishwasher salary in California
Dishwashers in California earn a median of $37,870 a year ($18.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 74,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,640 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $34,810. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for dishwashers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 4.1 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,160 | $16.90 |
| 25th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Median | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| 75th percentile | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Average (mean) | $39,710 | $19.09 |
Half of dishwashers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,155.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,577.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,456.54 |
| Weekly | $728.27 |
| Hourly | $18.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,960 | 3,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,100 | 9,530 |
| Napa, CA | $39,930 | 590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,810 | 1,160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,530 | 7,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,910 | 530 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,580 | 27,520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,380 | 510 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,350 | 970 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,290 | 1,150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,930 | 4,030 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,810 | 600 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,760 | 850 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,710 | 6,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,670 | 1,480 |
| Yuba City, CA | $36,220 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $35,980 | 790 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,720 | 1,030 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,560 | 120 |
| Merced, CA | $35,210 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $35,150 | 290 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,110 | 1,550 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,990 | 160 |
| Redding, CA | $34,900 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,750 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for dishwashers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,080 |
| District of Columbia | $38,670 |
| California | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $37,840 |
| Hawaii | $37,740 |
| Massachusetts | $37,190 |
| Illinois | $36,180 |
| Oregon | $36,040 |
| Vermont | $36,010 |
| New Jersey | $35,900 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in California?
The median salary for dishwashers in California is $37,870 a year, or $18.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in California?
The top 10% of dishwashers in California earn at least $45,640 a year. The top 25% earn $42,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,160 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $36,260 or less.
How many dishwashers work in California?
About 74,160 dishwashers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.