Dishwasher salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Dishwashers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $37,010 a year ($17.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,540 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $34,810. Pay here is 4% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $38,670. There are 3.7 dishwashers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dishwashers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Median | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| 75th percentile | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| Average (mean) | $37,430 | $17.99 |
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 | $3,084.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,542.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,423.46 |
| Weekly | $711.73 |
| Hourly | $17.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dishwasher salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $33,280 | 4,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,270 | 8,900 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $33,090 | 480 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $31,440 | 280 |
| Richmond, VA | $31,370 | 1,980 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,200 | 290 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $31,200 | 260 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 170 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,130 | 160 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $29,770 | 2,300 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $29,750 | 250 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $29,160 | 230 |
| Roanoke, VA | $28,790 | 510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $28,660 | 340 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,500 | 270 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $26,720 | 110 |
| Morgantown, WV | $26,490 | 180 |
| Charleston, WV | $26,440 | 210 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,250 | 290 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $26,180 | 190 |
| Beckley, WV | $25,150 | 130 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $24,600 | 110 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,600 | $16.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,040 | $22.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $42,920 | $20.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,580 | $22.87 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Bartender | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,900 | $36.01 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,650 | $19.06 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for dishwashers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $37,010 a year, or $17.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dishwashers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of dishwashers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $43,540 a year. The top 25% earn $38,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for dishwashers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of dishwashers earn $34,490 or less.
How many dishwashers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 11,690 dishwashers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.