Dishwasher salary in Madison, WI
Dishwashers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $32,750 a year ($15.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,970 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 13% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $29,070. There are 2.8 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,050, close to the median.
Pay range for dishwashers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,100 | $10.63 |
| 25th percentile | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Median | $32,750 | $15.75 |
| 75th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| Average (mean) | $32,050 | $15.41 |
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 | $2,729.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,364.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,259.62 |
| Weekly | $629.81 |
| Hourly | $15.75 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $34,940 | 5,940 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $30,220 | 410 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,960 | 210 |
| Appleton, WI | $29,370 | 320 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $29,310 | 260 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29,250 | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $29,170 | 2,330 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $29,020 | 260 |
| Green Bay, WI | $28,890 | 450 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $28,290 | 210 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $28,230 | 180 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28,140 | 200 |
| Wausau, WI | $27,860 | 160 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $22,080 | 160 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,850 | $12.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Bartender | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,060 | $22.15 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,650 | $13.78 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Madison, WI metro area is $32,750 a year, or $15.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $42,970 a year. The top 25% earn $36,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,100 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $25,470 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Madison, WI?
About 1,160 dishwashers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.