Dishwashers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,520 or more. The middle half of dishwashers in Santa Cruz earn between $36,640 and $38,800.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $37KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,790 | $3,232 | $18.65 |
| Median | $37,380 | $3,115 | $17.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,640 | $3,053 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,800 | $3,233 | $18.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dishwashers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Dishwashers in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($39,710) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($34,310). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $34,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $38,790 | $37,380 | $35,790 | $44,520 | 510 |
| California | $39,710 | $37,870 | $35,160 | $45,640 | 74,160 |
| United States | $34,310 | $34,810 | $26,200 | $42,860 | 477,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dishwashers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $38,790, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $32,660 a year, or $2,722 a month and $1,256 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for dishwashers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $38,790 buys what about $35,297 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 29.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dishwashers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 9th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($44,840).
- San Jose$44,840
- San Francisco$43,040
- Napa$42,060
- Santa Rosa$40,220
- Salinas$39,830
- San Diego$39,820
- Los Angeles$39,240
- Vallejo$39,100
- Santa Cruz$38,790
- Santa Maria$38,750
Highest-paying cities for dishwashers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,880).
- Kahului, HI$46,880
- San Jose, CA$44,840
- San Francisco, CA$43,040
- Seattle, WA$42,770
- Napa, CA$42,060
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Dishwashers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do dishwashers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$18.65 an hour on average, and $17.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dishwashers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dishwashers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $32,660 a year ($2,722 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,790. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do dishwashers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($34,310).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-9021; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.69, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.