Dishwasher salary in New Jersey
Dishwashers in New Jersey earn a median of $35,900 a year ($17.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,860 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $34,810. New Jersey ranks 10th of 51 states for dishwashers pay. There are 1.7 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $36,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $32,800 | $15.77 |
| Median | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 75th percentile | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| Average (mean) | $36,390 | $17.50 |
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 | $2,991.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,495.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,380.77 |
| Weekly | $690.38 |
| Hourly | $17.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,110 | 890 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,670 | 25,580 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,360 | 270 |
| Vineland, NJ | $33,400 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,270 | 8,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $30,690 | 1,170 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,720 | $19.58 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for dishwashers in New Jersey is $35,900 a year, or $17.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of dishwashers in New Jersey earn at least $42,860 a year. The top 25% earn $37,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $32,800 or less.
How many dishwashers work in New Jersey?
About 7,450 dishwashers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.