Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Baristas
Baristas prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
53% said they were satisfied with their job and 36% said they found their job meaningful.
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
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
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
Average hourly wage
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 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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