Dishwasher salary in District of Columbia
Dishwashers in District of Columbia earn a median of $38,670 a year ($18.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $34,810. District of Columbia ranks 2nd of 51 states for dishwashers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 5.1 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| 25th percentile | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Median | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 75th percentile | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Average (mean) | $40,450 | $19.45 |
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 | $3,222.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,611.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,487.31 |
| Weekly | $743.65 |
| Hourly | $18.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,010 | 11,690 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Bartender | $53,920 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,920 | $18.23 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for dishwashers in District of Columbia is $38,670 a year, or $18.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of dishwashers in District of Columbia earn at least $44,190 a year. The top 25% earn $39,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,710 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $38,060 or less.
How many dishwashers work in District of Columbia?
About 3,580 dishwashers are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.