What Does it Take to Be a Barista?

Position Description Prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.

Life As a Barista

• Take out garbage.
• Set up or restock product displays.
• Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
• Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
• Provide customers with product details, such as coffee blend or preparation descriptions.
• Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.

Skills Needed to be a Barista

These are the skills Baristas say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Types of Barista

• Coffee Shop Attendant
• Barista
• Coffee Maker
• Bar Manager
• Coffee Bar Attendant

Is There Job Demand for Baristas?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 505,200 jobs in the United States for Barista. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.6% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,100 new jobs for Barista by 2026. The BLS estimates 113,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Barista are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Minnesota, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Baristas Salary

The typical yearly salary for Baristas is somewhere between $17,790 and $30,500.

Baristas who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or California, make the highest salaries.

How much do Baristas make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$20,180
Alaska	$24,750
Arizona	$25,530
Arkansas	$22,030
California	$28,120
Colorado	$24,300
Connecticut	$25,860
Delaware	$21,690
District of Columbia	$31,780
Florida	$20,970
Georgia	$19,830
Hawaii	$25,060
Idaho	$21,920
Illinois	$23,830
Indiana	$19,600
Iowa	$21,090
Kansas	$19,300
Kentucky	$20,150
Louisiana	$18,420
Maine	$23,040
Maryland	$24,010
Massachusetts	$26,780
Michigan	$22,870
Minnesota	$23,290
Mississippi	$18,720
Missouri	$21,300
Montana	$21,320
Nebraska	$21,690
Nevada	$25,440
New Hampshire	$23,440
New Jersey	$21,800
New Mexico	$20,180
New York	$25,680
North Carolina	$20,980
North Dakota	$23,850
Ohio	$22,340
Oklahoma	$19,520
Oregon	$26,020
Pennsylvania	$20,690
Rhode Island	$24,610
South Carolina	$20,010
South Dakota	$21,860
Tennessee	$19,270
Texas	$21,140
Utah	$21,900
Vermont	$25,490
Virginia	$21,640
Washington	$27,720
West Virginia	$21,850
Wisconsin	$19,890
Wyoming	$20,840

Tools & Technologies Used by Baristas

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Baristas may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Point of sale POS software
• Accounting software

How do I Become a Barista?

Are there Baristas education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Barista?

Where Baristas Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Baristas employed by various industries.

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: via

More about our data sources and methodologies.