NinetoNext

← Career directory · Food service

Dishwashers

Takes orders, preps and cooks food, and keeps a restaurant running.

Typical education to startNo formal educational credential
Job outlook2025–2035: -1%
Median pay$34,810 a year (2025)
Interest codeRC Realistic, Conventional

Read the full guide

Restaurant crews take orders at the counter or drive-thru, prep ingredients, cook on the grill or line, bus tables, wash dishes, and greet and seat guests as hosts. It's one of the most common first jobs. It teaches speed, teamwork, food safety and dealing with customers, and people who stick with it can move up to shift lead, cook or manager.

Open the restaurant crew member guide

The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.

High school courses that build toward it

  • English 10 · English

    Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

  • Physical Education · Health and PE

    Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.

  • Foods and Culinary · Career and Technical

    Builds growing food and raising animals, which this job uses.

  • U.S. History · Social Studies

    Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

  • German · World Language

    Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

  • Band · Arts

    Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.

Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.

Dishwashers on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.