Dishwashers Salary
The mean pay for a dishwashers in Pennsylvania is $29,950/year ($14.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $37K for experienced workers. BLS does not publish the median for this occupation because wages exceed the reportable ceiling. The figure shown is the mean (average). Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $31,536 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 62.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K (mean) get you in Pennsylvania?
About dishwashers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for dishwashers in Pennsylvania runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 64.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for dishwasherss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level dishwashers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $37K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Dishwashers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $33K | +11% | 8,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $31K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Pittsburgh | $30K | +0% | 4,280 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $30K | -1% | 960 |
| York-Hanover | $30K | -1% | 520 |
| Lancaster | $29K | -3% | 850 |
| State College | $29K | -3% | 250 |
| Gettysburg | $28K | -6% | 130 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $28K | -6% | 790 |
| Reading | $28K | -8% | 550 |
| Lebanon | $28K | -8% | 190 |
| Altoona | $27K | -10% | 190 |
| Erie | $26K | -12% | 440 |
| Chambersburg | $26K | -14% | 150 |
| Williamsport | $24K | -20% | 190 |
| Johnstown | $21K | -28% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
Track dishwashers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dishwasher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 64.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dishwashers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dishwashers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,293/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 104% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dishwasher a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $30K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for dishwashers?
Pennsylvania pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do dishwashers make in Pennsylvania?
BLS reports a mean (average) wage of $29,950 a year for this occupation in Pennsylvania. The median is not published because wages exceed the BLS reportable ceiling. Entry-level workers start around $21,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,099/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 64.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dishwashers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dishwashers salary is worth about $31,536 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dishwashers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.