How to hire dishwashers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving. • Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition. • Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas. • Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas. • Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars. • Sweep or scrub floors. • Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks. • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $16.73 an hour ($34,810 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for dishwashers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What dishwashers do
- Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving.
- Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition.
- Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.
- Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
- Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars.
- Sweep or scrub floors.
- Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks.
- Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand.
Education, experience and outlook for dishwashers
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: Up to 1 month (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -1% over ten years, little or no change · about 68,900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay dishwashers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,080 |
| District of Columbia | $38,670 |
| California | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $37,840 |
| Hawaii | $37,740 |
| West Virginia | $26,460 |
| Louisiana | $26,440 |
| Mississippi | $26,300 |
See dishwashers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
- Food Preparation Workers
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
- Cooks, Short Order
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.