Dishwasher Job Description: Duties, Skills and Template
Short answer: A restaurant dishwasher cleans and sanitizes dishes, glassware, utensils, pots and pans so the kitchen and dining room never run out. Dishwashers run the dish machine, check sanitizer levels and water temperature, put clean items away, take out trash and help clean the kitchen.
No clean plates, no service.
Dishwasher job description template
Job title: Dishwasher
Reports to: Kitchen manager or sous chef
Summary: Keep dishes, utensils and cookware clean and sanitized, and help keep the kitchen clean and safe.
Duties
Scrape, rinse and load dishes, glassware and utensils into the dish machine.
Wash pots and pans by hand using the wash, rinse and sanitize method.
Check dish machine temperature and sanitizer levels and record them on a log.
Put clean items back on the line and in the dining room quickly.
Take out trash and recycling and clean floors and mats.
Help with basic prep when the dish pit is caught up.
Report broken equipment and low chemicals.
Skills and requirements
Able to stand for a full shift, lift racks and work in a hot, wet area.
Safe handling of cleaning chemicals.
Reliable and able to keep up during a rush.
Available nights, weekends and holidays.
Teen workers have limits on hours and some kitchen equipment. See child labor laws.
Why the dish station matters
When dishes back up, the line runs out of plates and the floor runs out of glasses. A dishwasher who keeps up protects ticket times and food safety. Add dish duties to your kitchen cleaning checklist and food safety checklist.
Do dishwashers get tips?
Back-of-house employees like dishwashers can be included in a mandatory tip pool when the employer does not take a tip credit, under federal rules. State laws can be stricter. See tip pooling rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Schedule the dish pit with the rush
EZTime schedules dishwashers to match your covers, lets employees swap shifts in the app and records hours and breaks with the time clock.
Frequently asked questions
What does a restaurant dishwasher do?
Cleans and sanitizes dishes and cookware, runs the dish machine and helps keep the kitchen clean.
Can dishwashers share in a tip pool?
Under federal rules, yes, when the employer does not take a tip credit. State laws can be stricter.
What skills does a dishwasher need?
Stamina, reliability, speed and safe handling of cleaning chemicals.
