Jobs Similar to Dishwashers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to dishwashers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, Slaughterers and Meat Packers and Cooks (Restaurant).
Dishwashers: $34,810 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
74% similar · $34,890 (0%) · High school
- 2Slaughterers and Meat Packers
73% similar · $40,130 (+15%) · High school
- 3Cooks, Restaurant
72% similar · $37,390 (+7%) · High school
- 4Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
72% similar · $43,220 (+24%) · High school
- 5Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
72% similar · $44,810 (+29%) · High school
- 6Sewing Machine Operators
71% similar · $36,670 (+5%) · High school
- 7Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
71% similar · $40,240 (+16%) · High school
- 8Aircraft Service Attendants
71% similar · $40,450 (+16%) · High school
- 9Helpers--Production Workers
71% similar · $39,070 (+12%) · High school
- 10Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
71% similar · $43,530 (+25%) · High school
- 11Light Truck Drivers
71% similar · $44,860 (+29%) · High school
- 12Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
71% similar · $36,840 (+6%) · Training or associate
- 13Conveyor Operators and Tenders
71% similar · $42,420 (+22%) · High school
- 14Bakers
70% similar · $37,160 (+7%) · High school
- 15Cooks, Fast Food
70% similar · $30,890 (−11%) · High school
- 16Food Preparation Workers
70% similar · $35,320 (+1%) · High school
- 17Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
69% similar · $35,830 (+3%) · High school
- 18Food Batchmakers
69% similar · $42,290 (+21%) · High school
- 19Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
69% similar · $48,540 (+39%) · High school
- 20Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
69% similar · $50,270 (+44%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than dishwashers.
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders69% similar · $50,270 (+44%)
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders69% similar · $48,540 (+39%)
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders72% similar · $44,810 (+29%)
- Light Truck Drivers71% similar · $44,860 (+29%)
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders71% similar · $43,530 (+25%)
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders72% similar · $43,220 (+24%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for dishwashers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where dishwashers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (78)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (78)
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment (76)
- Cooks, Restaurant (76)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (76)
- Cooks, Fast Food (74)
- Food Preparation Workers (74)
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (74)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (71)
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers (71)
Questions about jobs like dishwashers
What jobs are most similar to dishwashers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (74% similar), Slaughterers and Meat Packers (73% similar), Cooks (Restaurant) (72% similar), Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders (72% similar) and Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (72% similar).
Which jobs like dishwashers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ($50,270, +44%; usually a high school diploma), Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ($48,540, +39%; usually a high school diploma) and Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders ($44,810, +29%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with dishwashers ($34,810). Without more preparation than dishwashers usually need: Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.