Baristas
SOC code 35-3023 · O*NET-SOC 35-3023.01 · Little to some preparation needed · Food service and hospitality
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Baristas prepare coffee and espresso drinks to order, often at high volume. The role is mostly trained on the job in a few weeks, and speciality coffee skills — latte art, brewing methods, equipment maintenance — are what separate career baristas from casual ones.
Baristas pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$31,200
a year
Hourly
$15.00
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$32,150
$15.46 per hour
Middle 50%
$27,700 – $36,070
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$22,840 – $42,650
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
3,854,050
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Fast Food and Counter Workers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $22,840
- $10.98/hr
- 25th percentile
- $27,700
- $13.32/hr
- Median percentile
- $31,200
- $15.00/hr
- 75th percentile
- $36,070
- $17.34/hr
- 90th percentile
- $42,650
- $20.51/hr
What does a barista do?
Prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
- 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 service or seating areas.
- Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
- Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.
- Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.
How to become a barista
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a barista earn?
The national median is $31,200 a year. The full range runs from $22,840 at the 10th percentile to $42,650 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a barista without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.4/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.6/5
- Writing2.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.6/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- Sales and Marketing3.5/5
- Food Production3.2/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.0/5
- Production and Processing2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Operation and Control.