Summary
A dishwasher keeps the kitchen running by cleaning dishes, pots, pans and utensils so cooks and servers always have what they need. It is an entry-level kitchen job and often a first step toward cooking.
The work is wet, hot and fast. Say so plainly, and describe the path to other kitchen roles if you offer one.
Duties and responsibilities
- Wash, rinse and sanitize dishes, glassware, pots, pans and utensils by hand and with a dish machine.
- Keep the dish area clean, stocked and organized throughout the shift.
- Put clean items away in their proper places.
- Take out trash and recycling, and keep floors dry and safe.
- Follow sanitation and chemical safety steps.
- Help with basic prep, deliveries and cleaning when the kitchen is busy.
- Tell the manager when supplies or equipment need attention.
Skills and qualities
- Hardworking and steady on busy nights.
- Quick and organized.
- Able to stand, lift and bend for a full shift.
- Cares about cleanliness and safety.
- Works well with the whole kitchen team.
- Willing to learn and take on new tasks.
Typical requirements
- No experience needed if you will train. Say so in the posting.
- A food handler card where your state or county requires it.
- Ability to stand for long shifts, lift the weight you name and work in a hot, wet area.
- Minimum age that meets your state’s rules for kitchen work.
- Availability for evenings, weekends and holidays if the job needs them.
Requirements differ by state, city and employer. Check the licensing, age, safety and pay rules that apply to your business before you post. This page is a starting point, not legal advice.
Schedule and conditions
Dishwashing shifts follow the restaurant’s service hours, often including evenings and weekends. Give the usual days and times and whether closing shifts are required.
Say whether you offer scheduling notice and whether hours can grow into other kitchen roles.
Nice to have
- Earlier kitchen or restaurant experience.
- Interest in becoming a prep or line cook.
- Experience with commercial dish machines.
- Flexible availability.
Tips for posting this job
- Say that you train, if you do.
- Describe the shifts and the pace honestly.
- Explain how dishwashers move up in your kitchen.
- State whether you provide non-slip shoes, aprons and a staff meal.
- Give the location and transit or parking details.
Put your real pay, schedule and location in the posting. Candidates skip posts that leave them out.
Sample job post
Copy this, then change the words in brackets to match your business.
Dishwasher: [full time / part time] at [restaurant name] in [city]
[Restaurant name] is hiring a dishwasher to keep our kitchen stocked with clean dishes, pots and pans during [lunch / dinner / weekend] service. No experience is needed: we will train you, and [describe the path to prep or line cook, if you offer one].
Pay: [pay rate or range]. Schedule: [days and hours], including [evenings / weekends / closing shifts]. Start: [start date].
- Wash, rinse and sanitize dishes, glassware, pots, pans and utensils by hand and with a dish machine.
- Keep the dish area clean, stocked and organized.
- Put clean items away in their proper places.
- Take out trash and recycling, and keep floors dry and safe.
- Help with basic prep and deliveries when the kitchen is busy.
- Requirements: [no experience needed / some kitchen experience], [food handler card where required], and the ability to stand for long shifts and lift [weight].
- We provide: [training, non-slip shoes or aprons, staff meal, other benefits].
Interview questions for a dishwasher
- Have you worked in a kitchen before? What did you do there?
- The dish pit is backed up and cooks need pans now. What do you do first?
- Have you used a commercial dish machine? How do you know it is cleaning and sanitizing properly?
- How do you keep the floor around the dish area safe?
- How do you handle cleaning chemicals safely?
- Are you interested in learning prep or line cooking later?
- Can you work evenings, weekends and closing shifts?
Ask every candidate the same questions so you can compare answers fairly. HRGP keeps your questions, notes and scores with each applicant.
Questions and answers
What are the main dishwasher duties?
A dishwasher cleans and sanitizes dishes, glassware, pots, pans and utensils by hand and with a dish machine, and puts them away. Dishwasher duties also include keeping the dish area clean and stocked, taking out trash, keeping floors dry and helping with prep or deliveries when the kitchen is busy.
Does a dishwasher need experience or a certificate?
Most dishwasher jobs are entry level, and many restaurants train new hires. Some states or counties require a food handler card for kitchen workers, and there are minimum age rules for kitchen work. Those rules differ by place, so check what applies where you are.
What should a dishwasher job description include?
List the dishwasher duties, the shifts and the pace honestly, and say whether you train. Explain how dishwashers can move up to prep or line cook in your kitchen, and state what you provide, such as non-slip shoes, aprons or a staff meal.
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