Dishwasher salary in Columbia, SC
Dishwashers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $28,180 a year ($13.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,160 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 3% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $29,160. There are 3.7 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,620 | $11.35 |
| 25th percentile | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Median | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| 75th percentile | $29,900 | $14.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,160 | $16.91 |
| Average (mean) | $28,780 | $13.84 |
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 | $2,348.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,174.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,083.85 |
| Weekly | $541.92 |
| Hourly | $13.55 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $33,040 | 410 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $31,920 | 3,790 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $31,800 | 1,670 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $29,590 | 1,180 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $29,470 | 310 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28,630 | 500 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $28,610 | 960 |
| Florence, SC | $26,970 | 220 |
| Sumter, SC | $26,740 | 70 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,050 | $14.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,070 | $11.09 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,920 | $10.06 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $17,810 | $8.56 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Bartender | $19,230 | $9.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,540 | $13.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $28,180 a year, or $13.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $35,160 a year. The top 25% earn $29,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,620 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $27,660 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,470 dishwashers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.