Dishwashers Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $36,960 +9.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.77
10th percentile $35,620
90th percentile $44,630
Employed locally 6,870
National median $33,670

Compare Dishwashers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Dishwashers
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,620
    25th
    $36,270
    50th (median)
    $36,960
    75th
    $39,130
    90th
    $44,630

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Dishwashers salary vs area income 36% Median Dishwashers salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Dishwashers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,950
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $42,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $40,180
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $39,490
    Napa, CA $38,640
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,140

    Nearby metros — Dishwashers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,950
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $40,180
    Napa, CA $38,640
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $37,980
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $37,750
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $37,480

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,860
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,060
    Cooks, Restaurant $45,040
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,990
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,730
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $35,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dishwashers make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Dishwashers in San Diego, CA is $17.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.42 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Dishwashers salaries?

    The median Dishwashers salary in San Diego, CA is 9.8% above the national median of $33,670. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Dishwashers in San Diego?

    Entry-level Dishwashers (10th percentile) earn around $35,620 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,270.