Dishwasher salary in Pennsylvania
Dishwashers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $29,950 a year ($14.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,110 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pennsylvania ranks 32nd of 51 states for dishwashers pay. There are 3.2 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,950, close to the median.
Pay range for dishwashers in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,550 | $10.36 |
| 25th percentile | $24,310 | $11.69 |
| Median | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| 75th percentile | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Average (mean) | $29,950 | $14.40 |
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 | $2,495.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,247.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,151.92 |
| Weekly | $575.96 |
| Hourly | $14.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dishwasher salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,270 | 8,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $30,690 | 1,170 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,000 | 4,280 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $29,700 | 960 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $29,590 | 520 |
| Lancaster, PA | $29,140 | 850 |
| State College, PA | $28,950 | 250 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $28,120 | 130 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $28,100 | 790 |
| Reading, PA | $27,650 | 550 |
| Lebanon, PA | $27,590 | 190 |
| Altoona, PA | $26,960 | 190 |
| Erie, PA | $26,300 | 440 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $25,710 | 150 |
| Williamsport, PA | $23,850 | 190 |
| Johnstown, PA | $21,430 | 150 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,040 | $15.89 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for dishwashers in Pennsylvania is $29,950 a year, or $14.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of dishwashers in Pennsylvania earn at least $37,110 a year. The top 25% earn $34,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,550 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $24,310 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Pennsylvania?
About 19,570 dishwashers are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.