How to hire a dish washer

How to hire a dish washer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dish washer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dish washer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dish washer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a dish washer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dish washer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a dish washer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a dish washer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of dish washers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Dish Washer	Description	Hourly rate
   Dish Washer		$11-17
   Kitchen Staff	The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show more	$11-17
   Kitchen Helper	Kitchen helpers perform various kitchen tasks in restaurants, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Their duties and responsibilities include assisting cooks in the preparation of meal ingredients, helping other staff with unloading food items from delivery trucks, and washing and drying the utensils, dishes, and cookware... Show more	$9-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Work Ethic
   • Fine Dining
   • Washing Machines
   • Team Work
   • Basic Math
   • Wine
   • Wash Dishes
   • Food Preparation Equipment
   • Excellent Dining
   • Dishwashers
   • Safety Standards
   • Scrub Floors
   • Kitchen Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Wash dishes, bus tables, maintain an overall satisfactory restaurant, and help with any customer or team member needs.
   • Keep utensils going to the rightful owners' (cooks, servers, )
   • Stock and restock supplies for the servers and the cooks.
   • Raise and maintain high standards for cleanliness and safety within the DMO team.
   • Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
   • Rinse, wash and sort all utensils, glass and tableware, return back to proper location.

   More dish washer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dish washer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A dish washer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a dish washer in Iowa may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level dish washer usually earns less than a senior-level dish washer. Additionally, a dish washer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average dish washer salary

   $14.36hourly

   $29,860 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level dish washer salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

   Average dish washer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,526	$18
   2	District of Columbia	$34,487	$17
   3	California	$34,079	$16
   4	Massachusetts	$33,218	$16
   5	Oregon	$32,677	$16
   6	New York	$32,254	$16
   7	Colorado	$30,123	$14
   8	Minnesota	$29,477	$14
   9	Arizona	$29,414	$14
   10	Illinois	$28,575	$14
   11	Nevada	$28,227	$14
   12	Maryland	$28,114	$14
   13	Maine	$27,674	$13
   14	Michigan	$26,940	$13
   15	Utah	$26,870	$13
   16	Pennsylvania	$26,640	$13
   17	New Mexico	$25,928	$12
   18	Missouri	$25,753	$12
   19	North Carolina	$25,284	$12
   20	Ohio	$25,217	$12

   Average dish washer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rich Products	$38,303	$18.41	1
   2	Lexington Country Club	$37,871	$18.21	2
   3	Sentry	$37,365	$17.96
   4	Dairy Farmers of America	$37,178	$17.87
   5	Tableau	$36,916	$17.75
   6	Waters	$36,558	$17.58	1
   7	Diners Club International	$36,338	$17.47
   8	University of St. Thomas	$36,199	$17.40
   9	V-Soft Consulting	$35,894	$17.26
   10	WeatherTech	$35,390	$17.01
   11	Kohler Co.	$35,256	$16.95	3
   12	Emory University	$35,249	$16.95
   13	Bertucci's	$35,164	$16.91	3
   14	On The Border	$34,814	$16.74	27
   15	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$34,739	$16.70	1
   16	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$34,678	$16.67	32
   17	Anthony	$34,564	$16.62
   18	University of Wisconsin System	$34,482	$16.58
   19	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$34,470	$16.57
   20	Exact Sciences	$34,442	$16.56

4. Writing a dish washer job description

   A dish washer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a dish washer job description:

   Dish washer job description example

   As a kitchen team member and Dishwasher, you'll keep the kitchen humming by stocking it up with the tools and dishes they need to create and plate our homemade favorites.
   Responsibilities:
   In this role, you will work closely with both the kitchen and dining room teams to make sure that each guest has a spotless table to sit at while enjoying their meal on squeaky clean dishes. As a kitchen team member, you will have flexible hours (full or part time) and the opportunity for promotion and continued development
   Qualifications:
   You will need to be able to stand for long periods, work in a variety of environments, be expected to lift, load and carry up to 40 pounds, and work with hot and cold food items. You must be able to understand and carry out instructions while working effectively with co-workers and managers to please our guests.
   
   We'd love to get to know you! Text " CBJOBS " to 97211 to start your application or click "Apply for the job online" above.
   
   NOTE: Racism, either overt or perpetuated through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and both our Mission and People Promise are firmly rooted in the principle of valuing what everyone brings to the table. Our employees work hard to ensure that our brand, which is grounded in genuine hospitality and nostalgia, represents only what is good about those things. While our d cor and food may harken back to earlier times, our inclusive culture and beliefs about equality and diversity do not.
   
   Come for the biscuits and stay for the perks- Cracker Barrel offers our employees:
   Culture of Belonging: We believe in Family. We care about your wellbeing and your success. We foster an atmosphere where employees care for each other like family. Our employees are encouraged to be themselves, and this means we accept and celebrate our differences. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Top Notch Training: PAR Training program: our hourly employee training program is built to help you grow and succeed. Earn your stars and be rewarded with pay increases We have a unique role of the Employee Training Coordinator at each location and their purpose is to help you be successful in your role Cross Training- If you thrive in an environment where no day is the same, you can cross train and work in a variety of roles for your store Diverse Career Paths: Cracker Barrel values internal development- whether you want to become an Employee Training Coordinator, a Shift Leader, a Restaurant or Retail Manager, or come join us at our Home Office in Lebanon, TN to work in corporate support for our stores; we are committed to helping you reach your personal career goals. Competitive Pay and Benefits: Competitive pay based on your experience with opportunities to earn additional pay increases with the PAR Training program Paychecks weekly or daily - You can access the pay you have earned throughout the week! Flexible Schedules Health, Vision, and Dental Benefits starting on day 1 401K with company matching starting at 90 days Vacation Time 35% off restaurant and retail items Employee Stock Purchasing Program

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find dish washers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any dish washers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level dish washers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dish washer job on Zippia to find and recruit dish washer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit dish washers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dish washer

   Once you've found the dish washer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a dish washer?