Dishwasher salary in North Carolina
Dishwashers in North Carolina earn a median of $30,340 a year ($14.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,320 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $34,810. North Carolina ranks 29th of 51 states for dishwashers pay. There are 2.4 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $31,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,540 | $11.32 |
| 25th percentile | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Median | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| 75th percentile | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| Average (mean) | $31,110 | $14.96 |
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 | $2,528.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,264.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,166.92 |
| Weekly | $583.46 |
| Hourly | $14.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $33,800 | 730 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for dishwashers in North Carolina is $30,340 a year, or $14.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of dishwashers in North Carolina earn at least $37,320 a year. The top 25% earn $35,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,540 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $28,030 or less.
How many dishwashers work in North Carolina?
About 12,050 dishwashers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.