AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 35-9021.00
Will AI replace Dishwashers?
Dishwashers: AI can already handle 1 of 13 tasks; most of the work is hands-on, and the part AI can address mostly needs an efficient-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 13 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Dishwashers, from most to least exposed. 1 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Stock supplies, such as food or utensils, in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, or salad bars. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Transfer supplies or equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Receive and store supplies. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Clean garbage cans with water or steam. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Prepare and package individual place settings. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Set up banquet tables. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, or pans, using dishwashers or by hand. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Sweep or scrub floors. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Load or unload trucks that deliver or pick up food or supplies. | Estimated | No tier | |
| Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving. | Estimated | No tier |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 13 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 13 of 13. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
An efficient-tier model or lower covers 16% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 16% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 84% is hands-on.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 477,450
- Median annual wage
- $34,810
- Middle half of earners
- $29,690 to $37,440
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- +0.2%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers 66% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure16
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment 62% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure15
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers 61% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure22
- Food Preparation Workers 60% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure16
- Waiters and Waitresses 60% skill overlap, about 14 months to move Exposure20
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Dishwashers and AI
Will AI replace Dishwashers?
AI already handles 1 of the 13 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 20 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +0.2% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Dishwashers?
20 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 0 of the 13 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 13 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Dishwashers tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas. It is the only task that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
An efficient-tier model or lower covers 16% of the role's importance-weighted task work, and 84% is hands-on work that no model tier covers. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Dishwashers, and what do they earn?
477,450 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $34,810 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +0.2% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Dishwashers. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/dishwashers
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