Dishwashers
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Dirty dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and pans go through a machine or get washed by hand, then stored so cooks and servers can grab them again. Between loads you keep the kitchen orderly: sweep or scrub floors, sort trash for pickup, and move supplies or equipment by hand or on a hand truck. The job can also include stocking serving stations and refrigerators and prepping some foods for cooking or serving. Work stays in the kitchen, often wet, with lifting and a pace that rises when meals go out. Suits people who like steady, physical routines, a repeating wash-and-store cycle, and helping a kitchen crew stay supplied.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$34'810
Median Wage Market Position
$34'810
What you might do
- Wash dishes, pots, and pans
- Put clean dishes back in storage
- Keep kitchen work areas orderly
- Sweep and scrub kitchen floors
- Stock utensils at serving stations
- Sort trash and take it out
Skills that matter
- Running dishwashers or washing by hand
- Working in step with kitchen staff
- Hearing calls for clean plates
- Pacing washes through a busy service
- Spotting dishes that need another wash
- Deciding what to wash first
AI & the future of this role
Much of this work is physical and on-site in busy kitchens, which limits how far software alone can go. Automated washers may take over some volume, but loading, sorting, and keeping pace with service still tend to need people.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details