Dishwasher salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Dishwashers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $36,850 a year ($17.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,070 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $36,180. There are 2.6 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,350 | $15.07 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Median | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| 75th percentile | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| Average (mean) | $37,460 | $18.01 |
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 | $3,070.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,535.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,417.31 |
| Weekly | $708.65 |
| Hourly | $17.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,330 | 380 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,200 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,180 | 3,720 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,990 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,610 | 470 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,570 | 380 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,390 | 330 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 430 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,740 | 3,000 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,520 | 2,690 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $29,900 | 140 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,770 | 1,660 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,590 | 110 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,520 | 170 |
| Kokomo, IN | $29,430 | 110 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,090 | 350 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,740 | 210 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,710 | 450 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,690 | 250 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,460 | 300 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,330 | 130 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $27,680 | 170 |
| Muncie, IN | $27,460 | 120 |
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 |
See Dishwasher pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,850 a year, or $17.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $44,070 a year. The top 25% earn $38,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,350 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $34,840 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 11,910 dishwashers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.