Dishwasher salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Dishwashers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $29,770 a year ($14.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,180 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 10% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $33,130. There are 3.0 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,420 | $13.19 |
| 25th percentile | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| Median | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| 75th percentile | $35,440 | $17.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Average (mean) | $31,870 | $15.32 |
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 | $2,480.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,240.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,145 |
| Weekly | $572.50 |
| Hourly | $14.31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,010 | 11,690 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $33,800 | 730 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,090 | 480 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $31,920 | 3,790 |
| Asheville, NC | $31,860 | 540 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $31,440 | 280 |
| Burlington, NC | $31,410 | 190 |
| Richmond, VA | $31,370 | 1,980 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $31,300 | 1,700 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,130 | 160 |
| Wilmington, NC | $29,870 | 770 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,760 | 820 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $29,750 | 250 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $29,480 | 180 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,470 | 310 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $29,160 | 230 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,050 | 660 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $28,980 | 280 |
| Roanoke, VA | $28,790 | 510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $28,660 | 340 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,560 | 180 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,500 | 270 |
| 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 |
See Dishwasher pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,780 | $17.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Bartender | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,730 | $27.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $29,770 a year, or $14.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $38,180 a year. The top 25% earn $35,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,420 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $28,100 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 2,300 dishwashers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.