What is a Barista?
Occupation Description Prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.
What Do Baristas Do On a Daily Basis?
- Set up or restock product displays.
- Take out garbage.
- Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.
- Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
- Create signs to advertise store products or events.
- Describe menu items to customers or suggest products that might appeal to them.
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Barista Skills
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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Types of Barista
- Coffee Bar Attendant
- Barista
- Coffee Maker
- Coffee Brewer
- Coffee Shop Attendant
Are There Job Opportunities 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.
Salary for a Barista
The salary for Baristas ranges between about $17,790 and $30,500 a year.

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 |
What Tools & Technology do Baristas Use?
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
Becoming a Barista
Education needed to be a Barista:

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:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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