What Does A Barista Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Baristas

Baristas prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.

Salary
$28910
Becoming One
Very Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality


What they do

Baristas prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.

  • Receive and process customer payments.
  • Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
  • Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
  • Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Baristas prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas. They receive and process customer payments.

A typical day for a Barista will also include:

  • Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
  • Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
  • Describe menu items to customers or suggest products that might appeal to them.
  • Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
  • Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Baristas also create signs to advertise store products or events. They may also order, receive, or stock supplies or retail products.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Baristas set up or restock product displays. They might also demonstrate the use of retail equipment, such as espresso machines.

In addition, they check the temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.

To some Baristas, it is also their responsibility to take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

53% said they were satisfied with their job and 36% said they found their job meaningful.


Starbucks

Being a barista got me through college and grad school. In fact, now that I think about it, this must be a family tradition. My sister was the best barista at Borders Bookstore when that was a thing. If I was on the opening shift, I was in charge of the keys. I opened the … Read More


Starbucks

I worked at Starbucks for 5 years and I held different positions there: I started off as a Barista then got promoted to Shift Supervisor. Even though the job was pretty much the same for both positions, the responsibilities were different. As a Barista, I was either at the cashier taking orders or at the … Read More


I am the co-owner and operator of a sourdough bakery cafe called BReD in Whistler, BC, Canada. My husband is a professional chef turned baker and I have trained at the Vancouver Barista Academy and run the front-of-house. I am the bakery manager/head barista in our bakery cafe. What does your typical day at work … Read More


A hotel

I am a barista at my hotel. I make coffee for guests and the food we have available on the menu. My hotel would be busy with conferences because we are the biggest conference hotel in Atlanta. I will make coffee for 300 – 400 guests a day. From white mochas, mochas, lattes. From the … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is not growing.

How much do they make

Average salary

$28910 per year

Average hourly wage

$14 per hour

Entry-level Baristas with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $17,940 to $19,620 per year or $9 to $9 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $47,690 $23
Senior (Top 25%) $32,130 $15
Median $24,960 $12
Junior (Bottom 25%) $19,620 $9
No experience (Bottom 10%) $17,940 $9

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Baristas based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Other Personal Services $32520 $15.64
Traveler Accommodation $32090 $15.43
Grantmaking and Giving Services $32080 $15.42
Employment Services $31710 $15.25
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $31260 $15.03
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly $31190 $14.99
State Government $31170 $14.99
Technical and Trade Schools $31060 $14.93
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water $30940 $14.87
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $30580 $14.70

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Baristas work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Baristas including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 221640 $30400 $14.62
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 123820 $26970 $12.97
Traveler Accommodation 31820 $32090 $15.43
Civic and Social Organizations 28370 $23720 $11.40
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 20560 $27460 $13.20
Beverage Manufacturing 18170 $28970 $13.93
Special Food Services 14040 $29380 $14.13
Gambling Industries 4960 $27300 $13.12
Employment Services 4110 $31710 $15.25
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 2270 $29860 $14.36

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
72%

40 hours
15%

More than 40 hours
13%

Working schedule

74%

26%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
23%

Every day
9%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
28%

Every day
32%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
5%

Every day
71%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
52%

Once a year
8%

Once a month
5%

Once a week
11%

Every day
24%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
51%

Slightly competitive
25%

Moderately competitive
14%

Highly competitive
5%

Extremely competitive
5%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
21%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
65%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
75%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
12%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
1%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
85%

Once a year or more
8%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
78%

Once a year or more
16%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Easy
You need little to no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category don’t require a degree. However, you may need a few days to a few months of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Waiters, Logging Machine Operators, and Cashiers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
57%

High School Diploma or equivalent
29%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
9%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
5%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
71%

1 month
8%

1 to 3 months
1%

3 to 6 months
5%

6 months to 1 year
14%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
13%

1 month
60%

1 to 3 months
18%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
2%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
67%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
14%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
48%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
52%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
67%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
67%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
36%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
52%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
38%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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