Dishwasher salary in Iowa
Dishwashers in Iowa earn a median of $29,300 a year ($14.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,030 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $34,810. Iowa ranks 40th of 51 states for dishwashers pay. 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 $29,140, close to the median.
Pay range for dishwashers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,720 | $9.96 |
| 25th percentile | $26,240 | $12.61 |
| Median | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 75th percentile | $33,730 | $16.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Average (mean) | $29,140 | $14.01 |
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 | $2,441.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,220.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,126.92 |
| Weekly | $563.46 |
| Hourly | $14.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $33,810 | 1,210 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 430 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30,450 | 930 |
| Ames, IA | $30,110 | 110 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,530 | 290 |
| Dubuque, IA | $29,380 | 150 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,310 | 320 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29,230 | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28,890 | 190 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,480 | $16.10 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Bartender | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,090 | $16.39 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for dishwashers in Iowa is $29,300 a year, or $14.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of dishwashers in Iowa earn at least $36,030 a year. The top 25% earn $33,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,720 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $26,240 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Iowa?
About 3,290 dishwashers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.