Dishwashers Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $36,520 +8.5% vs national
Median hourly $17.56
10th percentile $34,690
90th percentile $43,760
Employed locally 500
National median $33,670

Compare Dishwashers salary & buying power

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

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Dishwashers
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,690
    25th
    $35,330
    50th (median)
    $36,520
    75th
    $37,650
    90th
    $43,760

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Dishwashers salary vs area income 33% Median Dishwashers salary is 67% 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 Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$37,300
    Waiters and Waitresses$35,270
    Cooks, Restaurant$42,460
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$46,980
    Cooks, Fast Food$37,670
    Food Preparation Workers$37,010

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dishwashers make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Dishwashers in Santa Cruz, CA is $17.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.40 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Dishwashers salaries?

    The median Dishwashers salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 8.5% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Dishwashers (10th percentile) earn around $34,690 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,330.