Dishwasher salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Dishwashers in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,820 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 2% lower than the New Jersey statewide median of $35,900. There are 1.1 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.37). The average (mean) salary is $36,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| Average (mean) | $36,990 | $17.79 |
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 | $2,946.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,473.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,360 |
| Weekly | $680 |
| Hourly | $17.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,110 | 890 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,670 | 25,580 |
| 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 |
See Dishwasher pay in every state or the New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,830 | $16.74 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Bartender | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,210 | $33.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,920 | $17.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $35,360 a year, or $17.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $43,820 a year. The top 25% earn $38,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $34,240 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 270 dishwashers are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.