Dishwashers Salary
The median pay for a dishwashers in Wisconsin is $29,070/year ($13.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $30,817 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 58.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $29K get you in Wisconsin?
About dishwashers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for dishwashers in Wisconsin runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 58.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level dishwashers (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Dishwashers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $33K | +13% | 1,160 |
| Kenosha | $30K | +3% | 210 |
| Appleton | $29K | +1% | 320 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $29K | +1% | 260 |
| Sheboygan | $29K | +1% | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $29K | +0% | 2,330 |
| Eau Claire | $29K | -0% | 260 |
| Green Bay | $29K | -1% | 450 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $28K | -3% | 210 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $28K | -3% | 180 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $28K | -3% | 200 |
| Wausau | $28K | -4% | 160 |
| Fond du Lac | $22K | -24% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dishwasher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 58.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dishwashers typically earn — is $20K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,211/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 99% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $29K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for dishwashers?
Wisconsin pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do dishwashers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $29,070 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,190, and experienced dishwashers can clear $37,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 58.1% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $30,817 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.