Dishwashers are an integral part of the restaurant and for many food service employees, it was their first job. Of course dish washers maintain the cleanliness of the dining utensils, plates, food equipment, and are often tasked with tasks like cleaning the restroom or floors. These contributors work behind the scenes to ensure that the customer’s dining experience is flawless.

Over 75.8% of dishwashers are employed by restaurants and food services. Traveler accommodations come in at second place with 4.61%, while amusement and recreation follow at 3.17%.

If you are looking for a dishwasher to join your workforce then you must need to put out a dishwasher job description complete with an accurate list of responsibilities, skills, and experiences required. Check out the template below for an example job description you can use.

These dishes didn’t wash themselves.

Primary Responsibilities

Here are some examples of responsibilities of dishwashers at most restaurants. Can you think of any tasks that I missed?

  • Clean dishes and dining utensils.
  • Stack and organize plates / utensils for wait staff.
  • Operating a commercial dishwashing machine.
  • Clean the dishwashing area and make sure the floors aren’t slippery so they’re not a hazard to you and to others.
  • Do a regular inventory of the utensils to check if there are any items missing.

Related Reading: Proven Food Runner Job Description Template That Gets Results 

  • Check the dining wares if there are chips and cracks so they won’t be used anymore.
  • Take out the trash.
  • (If the establishment is using a special dishwashing machine) Check the water and replace them. Keep the machine sanitary for use. Report any defects to your supervisor so the machine is well-maintained.
  • Keeps the storage area for the dishes and utensils dry and clean.
  • Support wait staff and management upon request.

It is important to list down the responsibilities of a dishwasher so the both of you are clear on what you expect them to do. It also lets the applicant size up the work load and make a judgement call on whether or not they can handle the role.

Desired Skills / Role Requirements

Aside from the list of responsibilities, you should also write down the desired skills you are looking for from your dishwasher. It’s like a checklist on the applicant’s part so they know if they’re suited for the job.

Below is a list you can check out as a guide:

  • Previous restaurant work experience is preferred.
  • Has a high school diploma. Often applicants to this role might still be enrolled in high school.
  • Knows how to multi-task.
  • Knows how to organize items.
  • Strong work ethic and “can-do” attitude.
  • Can do basic inventory.
  • Can be up on their feet for hours.
  • Has a health certification or permit.
  • Can lift and carry heavy loads.
  • Can work unsupervised.

Listing down the skills you’re looking for in a dishwasher saves time when you’re hiring. Future applicants will be able to go through the list and can decide whether or not they have what it takes to do the job. Just remember that for many applicants this could be their first job ever. Don’t ask or expect too much in terms of experience or credentials for this role.

Sample Job Description Template

Now that you know the important sections you need to include in your job description, it’s time to put it all together. Keep the job description for a dish washer informative, simple, and specific. Here is a template that you can use to post on employment websites or ad agencies. Adjust this template based on your needs and business name.

Local Flavors – Dishwasher / Kitchen Steward Position

Local Flavors is a restaurant that focuses on serving customers farm-to-table cuisine that’s been around for generations. We serve warm home cooked meals perfect for solo eats, date nights, and for family get-togethers. Throughout the years, we’ve become well-known for our scrumptious Sunday breakfast buffet spread.

We are looking to hire a dishwasher to join our workforce. This candidate will be in charge of washing the dishes, keeping our food equipment sanitary, and help maintain a spotless kitchen. This person will be able to be on their feet for four hours or longer and expected to take out the trash, clean rest rooms, and assist managers with other requests. In addition, the dishwasher must be a team player since they will be working with others in the kitchen in providing a clean dining experience for guests.

Dishwasher / Kitchen Steward Job Responsibilities:

  • Clean dishes and dining utensils as well as drinking glasses.
  • Clean buffet dining equipment such as chafing dishes and serving bowls.
  • Clean the dishwashing area and make sure the floors aren’t slippery so they’re not a hazard to you and to others.
  • Deliver and organize plates, utensils, bowls, and cups on the buffet line.
  • Do a regular inventory of the utensils and check the dining wares if there are chips and cracks so they won’t be used anymore.
  • Take out the trash and keep your station clean.
  • Restock the wait staff area with plates, napkins, condiments and other supplies.
  • Always check on the dishwashing machine and maintain sanitation. Report defects to your supervisor to avoid any accidents.
  • Keep the storage area for the dishes and utensils dry and clean. Organize all items as well.

Skills and Experiences:

  • Previous work experience is preferred.
  • Has a high school diploma or in the process of obtaining one.
  • Has a health certification or permit. Preferred but not needed.
  • Knows how to multi-task.
  • Can do basic inventory.
  • Can be up on their feet for hours.
  • Can handle fragile dining wares.
  • Can lift and carry heavy loads.
  • Can work unsupervised.
  • Knows how to organize items.
  • Must be a team player and communicate well with customers, wait staff, and management.

Job Type: Full Time

Schedule: Wednesday to Monday; 9 am to 5 pm

Salary rate: $13 per hour

Benefits:

  • Employee discount
  • Food provided on workdays
  • Exciting work environment with opportunity for advancement.

Contact information: (insert both your email and number)

Come join our growing team at Local Flavors! If you’re ready to apply, send us your resume at the email address provided with the subject line, “Squeaky Clean”.

Questions to Ask During an Interview

Take a peak at your applicant’s personality through an interview.

Once a resume catches your attention and you’ve narrowed your selections down, an interview is in order. It’s one of the ways to get to know an applicant and to check their personality and whether or not they would be a good addition to your team. Below are some questions you can ask your applicant during the interview for a dish washer.

  1. Why did you leave your last job?
  2. Are you currently enrolled in school? What’s your major?
  3. Do you have any experience working with industrial dishwashing machines?
  4. Have you handled any fragile dining wares?
  5. Was there ever a time during your previous job where you were met with problems? How were you able to deal with them?
  6. In your opinion, what qualities should a dishwasher have?
  7. The workflow in this restaurant is fast-paced. How would you keep yourself focused on the job?
  8. Are you willing to work holidays and overtime if needed?
  9. Will you be okay with such repetitive tasks?
  10. If you saw a fellow workmate violate food safety rules, what would you do?
  11. What are your future plans?

You might not be able to see the applicant in action yet but by interviewing them with the right questions, you’ll be able to get a glimpse of their work ethic and just how interested and eager they are for the position.

Keep in mind that your purpose to interview applicants is to gather knowledge about them that can benefit the workplace. Refrain from asking personal questions that have nothing to do with their job as a dishwasher. Never ask questions that are inappropriate or unprofessional.

Average Salary Job Statistics

Learn more about dishwashers with these statistics.

Here are some statistics about the profession of a dish washer. These are typically part-time and entry level roles for individuals that are just entering the workforce.

  • The average hourly wage for a dishwasher in the United States is $11 to $13. But this also depends on the scale of your restaurant. If you own a busy restaurant with catering services on the regular and function rooms to hold large banquets, then you might want to double-check how much you can offer to your applicant. In some establishments, you might even get a cut of the tips.
  • According to the Bureau of Labor, these are the roles a dishwasher does in the workplace:
    • Clean the dishes
    • Clean the kitchen or their work area
    • Clean food preparation equipment
    • Clean dining utensils
  • An estimated job growth of 4.34% is expected for the dishwasher job position.
  • The average age for people employed as dishwashers is 33.9 years old.
  • 342,125 people have been recorded in 2019 to have been employed as dishwashers.
  • The most common degree that dishwashers hold is a high school diploma.
  • Zippia’s study also reports that over 74.4% of dishwashers are men while 21.5 % are women.
  • The average dishwasher stays at their position for less than a year.
  • The most popular places for dishwashers are in Illinois, Chicago and NY, New York.

With this detailed job description template for dishwashers, you can get started in editing your own to submit to ad agencies and employment websites. You may even post these up on social media to cast your net even wider.

Related Reading: Restaurant Cashier Job Description Example You Can Copy & Paste

A dishwasher, also known as a kitchen steward at an establishment, is expected to clean dining utensils which include plates, bowls, glasses, forks, spoons, and the like. If your establishment is big, they are also in charge of cleaning the food equipment and tableware like chafing dishes and other things you use at a buffet to serve food. Additionally, they also help maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen by helping to take out trash and keeping their area clean after a day’s work.

A job like this has the person up on their feet a lot. There is also a great amount of lifting trash bags and tubs filled with dishes. With that being said, you must look for dishwashers that are able to carry 50 pounds or more of plates. At the same time, they must also know how to be gentle in handling these utensils and equipment since they’re fragile.

Dishwashers aren’t just limited to restaurants and cafes. They can be employed in hotels, hospitals, food courts, catering services, or any other establishment that offers food and beverage. So if your business falls under any of these categories, this guide and template is applicable to you too.

And that’s it! May you find yourself a skilled and reliable dishwasher through this template.

Want to start your own food business?

Hey! 👋I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.

We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.

Know someone interesting that should be interviewed on the website? Tell us about them here.