Dishwasher salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Dishwashers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $32,180 a year ($15.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is about the same as the Missouri statewide median of $32,150. There are 2.8 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,970 | $14.41 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| 75th percentile | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Average (mean) | $34,440 | $16.56 |
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 | $2,681.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,340.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,237.69 |
| Weekly | $618.85 |
| Hourly | $15.47 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,850 | 11,910 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $34,800 | 2,460 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,330 | 380 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,200 | 330 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,990 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,610 | 470 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,570 | 380 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,390 | 330 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 430 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 110 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $30,860 | 150 |
| Columbia, MO | $30,780 | 300 |
| Springfield, MO | $30,680 | 470 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,550 | 140 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,590 | 110 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,520 | 170 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $29,070 | 210 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for dishwashers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $32,180 a year, or $15.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $38,210 a year. The top 25% earn $36,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,970 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $31,200 or less.
How many dishwashers work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 3,720 dishwashers are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.