Dishwasher salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Dishwashers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $33,800 a year ($16.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 730 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,810 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 11% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $30,340. There are 2.1 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $33,000, close to the median.
Pay range for dishwashers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| 25th percentile | $29,720 | $14.29 |
| Median | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 75th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| Average (mean) | $33,000 | $15.86 |
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 | $2,816.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,408.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,300 |
| Weekly | $650 |
| Hourly | $16.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $31,920 | 3,790 |
| Asheville, NC | $31,860 | 540 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,410 | 190 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $31,300 | 1,700 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,870 | 770 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $29,770 | 2,300 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,760 | 820 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,480 | 180 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,470 | 310 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,050 | 660 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $28,980 | 280 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,560 | 180 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $27,810 | 170 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $27,540 | 90 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $27,400 | 100 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $33,800 a year, or $16.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $38,810 a year. The top 25% earn $36,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,180 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $29,720 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 730 dishwashers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.