Other Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers

How to become a Dishwasher

Official title: Dishwashers

Also called: Busser, Dish Machine Operator (DMO), Dish Room Worker, Dish Runner, Dish Technician (Dish Tech), Dishwasher, Kitchen Helper, Kitchen Steward, Steward, Utility Worker

Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.

Main tasks

Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand.
Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition.
Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.
Sweep or scrub floors.
Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars.
Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving.
Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks.

How to become one

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Ways in

Licence: A licence is required in 6 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $34,810 a year The middle half earn $29,690 to $37,440.
About 480,400 people work in this job now, and about 475,600 are projected by 2035. (-1%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How much does a Dishwasher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $34,810 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $29,690 to $37,440.

Is a Dishwasher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 480,400 people now and 475,600 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Dishwasher?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Dishwasher?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.