Chicago vs. Washington
Dishwashers. Median, spread and buying power, side by side.
Data released May 2025
BLS OEWS · SOC 35-9021
Fig. 1 — Side by side
Both distributions, one scale
10th to 90th percentile, median struck in red
Table 1 — Adjusted
Washington's median is 0.4% higher — but after local prices, the advantage flips: a median salary goes further in Chicago.
Chicago's median $36,850 buys $35,600 at national prices (price parity 103.6); Washington's $37,010 buys $34,000 (108.9).
Table 2 — The figures
Point by point
Published percentiles for both metros; the last column is Washington against Chicago.
| Chicago | Washington | Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 11,910 | 11,690 | −1.8% |
| 10th percentile | $31,350 | $31,200 | −0.5% |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $34,490 | −1.0% |
| Median | $36,850 | $37,010 | +0.4% |
| 75th percentile | $38,720 | $38,730 | +0.0% |
| 90th percentile | $44,070 | $43,540 | −1.2% |
Sources
How this page was made
- Wage data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Public domain.
- Price parity
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Full pages
- Dishwashers in Chicago · Dishwashers in Washington
Percentiles are reported exactly as released. Derived (price-adjusted) figures round to the nearest hundred. We take no payment for how any figure is presented.