Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Dishwashers:
53.5%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forDishwashers
$34,810 median salary•68,900 annual openings•SOC Code: 35-9021.00
Dishwashers are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Dishwashing is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because while AI-powered robots can now handle scrubbing and rinsing, most restaurants have not adopted this technology yet, and the flexible, hands-on parts of the job (like moving supplies, spotting messes, and keeping the kitchen organized) are still very hard for machines to do well. The real pressure pushing restaurants toward automation comes from tight budgets and a shrinking labor pool, but the high cost and complexity of robots means widespread replacement is not happening fast.
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Dishwashing is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because while AI-powered robots can now handle scrubbing and rinsing, most restaurants have not adopted this technology yet, and the flexible, hands-on parts of the job (like moving supplies, spotting messes, and keeping the kitchen organized) are still very hard for machines to do well. The real pressure pushing restaurants toward automation comes from tight budgets and a shrinking labor pool, but the high cost and complexity of robots means widespread replacement is not happening fast.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Dishwashers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Dishwashers jobs?
Dishwashing is one of the toughest restaurant jobs to fill, so a small group of startups are now using AI-powered robots to help. San Francisco-based Armstrong Robotics has already been running its system in real restaurants for over a year, and its robot uses three arms, 30 sensors, and a neural network trained on millions of dish images [1] to grab greasy plates, cups, and silverware out of bus tubs. Another company, Nala Robotics, sells "Spotless," which uses cameras and machine learning to scrape, rinse, wash, dry, and stack dishware in commercial kitchens [2].
Most restaurants, though, aren't using this tech yet — only about 26% of operators say they use any AI tools at all, and most of that is for marketing and admin work, not the kitchen [3]. So for now, human dishwashers are still doing the sweeping, trash, stocking, and hand-washing that machines struggle with.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Dishwashers?
Adoption could speed up because restaurants are desperate for help: 54% of operators told TD Bank that a shrinking labor pool is their biggest concern going into 2026 [4], and the National Restaurant Association reports that more than 9 in 10 operators say food, labor, and energy costs are major challenges, with 42% of restaurants not profitable last year [5]. That pressure makes automation attractive. But adoption is also slow because robots cost a lot, break down, and need careful setup — as QSR Magazine puts it, AI in 2026 is moving from experimentation to expectation, but is most effective when paired with human oversight [6].
The good news: even where robots take over scrubbing, restaurants still need people for the flexible, hands-on tasks — moving supplies, spotting messes, and keeping the kitchen safe. Being reliable, willing to learn new equipment, and showing up ready to help teammates are skills that stay valuable, no matter how smart the machines get.
Sources
Will AI replace Dishwashers?
No. We don't think AI will replace Dishwashers, though we do expect the job to change.
That's the thinking behind our 53.5% AI Resilience Score for this role. Yes, robots are showing up in commercial kitchens. Companies like Armstrong Robotics and Nala Robotics have built machines that can scrub, rinse, and stack dishware using cameras and machine learning (therobotreport.com, perishablenews.com). That's real, and it's worth paying attention to.
But most restaurants aren't there yet. Only about 26% of operators use any AI tools at all, and most of that is for marketing and admin work, not the kitchen [3]. Robots also cost a lot, break down, and need human backup. As one industry source puts it, AI is most effective when paired with human oversight [6]. The flexible, hands-on parts of the job, moving supplies, spotting messes, keeping the kitchen running safely, are still very much human work.
The economic picture is the real caution here. Wages in this field are modest, and the role has limited room to grow into higher-earning work. But restaurants are under serious pressure to fill positions, which means reliable, adaptable workers who can work alongside new equipment will stay in demand for the foreseeable future.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Dishwashers
The articles suggest that dishwashing careers are relatively secure in the age of AI. For instance, Microsoft reports that jobs like dishwashers are among those least threatened by automation, indicating stability in this field. Additionally, Eric Schmidt notes that while there is interest in robotic dishwashers, true automation is still far off. This suggests that students can pursue careers in dishwashing with confidence, as the demand for human workers in this role remains strong despite technological advancements.
Microsoft lists dishwashers, roofers among jobs least threatened by AI
www.kiro7.com • 8/4/2025
A recent Microsoft report highlights a growing divide in job security between blue-collar workers and desk-based employees amid the rise of...
Microsoft: Dishwashers, maids, roofers least at risk from AI
mynorthwest.com • 8/2/2025
A recent Microsoft report highlights a growing divide in job security between blue-collar workers and desk-based employees.
Good news for dishwashers and housekeepers: According to Microsoft, AI won’t eliminate those jobs
en.as.com • 7/31/2025
AI could replace up to 50% of jobs in 5 years, experts warn—though roles like housekeeping and roofing may remain largely unaffected. AI could...
Billionaire Harsh Goenka on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's LinkedIn profile: This might just be the most inspi
timesofindia.indiatimes.com • 7/31/2025
Social News: Harsh Goenka lauded Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, highlighting his journey from a dishwasher at Denny's to the head of a...
Google billionaire Eric Schmidt: People want dish-washing robots to clean up the kitchen more than any other kind
www.cnbc.com • 11/22/2017
It's more likely that robots will be “savants” before they will be able to do this, says the Chairman of Alphabet.
More Career Info
Career: Dishwashers
They clean dishes, utensils, and kitchen equipment to ensure everything is ready and safe for use in restaurants or cafeterias.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$34,810
Jobs (2025)
480,400
Growth (2025-35)
-1.0%
Annual Openings
68,900
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Clean or prepare various foods for cooking or serving.
2
Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, or utensils in clean and orderly condition.
3
Set up banquet tables.
4
Clean garbage cans with water or steam.
5
Prepare and package individual place settings.
6
Receive and store supplies.
7
Place clean dishes, utensils, or cooking equipment in storage areas.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
