Dishwasher salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Dishwashers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $37,290 a year ($17.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,480 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $37,870. There are 5.7 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| 25th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Median | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| 75th percentile | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Average (mean) | $38,750 | $18.63 |
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 | $3,107.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,553.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,434.23 |
| Weekly | $717.12 |
| Hourly | $17.93 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,960 | 3,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,100 | 9,530 |
| Napa, CA | $39,930 | 590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,810 | 1,160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,530 | 7,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,910 | 530 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,580 | 27,520 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,380 | 510 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,350 | 970 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,930 | 4,030 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,810 | 600 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,760 | 850 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,710 | 6,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,670 | 1,480 |
| Yuba City, CA | $36,220 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $35,980 | 790 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,720 | 1,030 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,560 | 120 |
| Merced, CA | $35,210 | 170 |
| Chico, CA | $35,150 | 290 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,110 | 1,550 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,990 | 160 |
| Redding, CA | $34,900 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,750 | 480 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,110 | $16.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,620 | $17.12 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,940 | $20.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,340 | $20.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| Bartender | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,060 | $31.28 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $48,210 | $23.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,340 | $18.44 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $37,290 a year, or $17.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $44,480 a year. The top 25% earn $39,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,550 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $36,200 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 1,150 dishwashers are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.