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Best states for a barista
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to barista jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of baristas in America is $38,000.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for baristas.If you are currently seeking employment as a barista, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for baristas in 2026
1. Nevada
Total barista jobs: 201 Average annual salary: $29,476 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
2. Arizona
Total barista jobs: 391 Average annual salary: $29,064 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. Maine
Total barista jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $30,990 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
4. Pennsylvania
Total barista jobs: 442 Average annual salary: $29,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
5. Michigan
Total barista jobs: 319 Average annual salary: $28,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
6. Connecticut
Total barista jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $30,202 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. Massachusetts
Total barista jobs: 395 Average annual salary: $30,764 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
8. New Hampshire
Total barista jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $30,896 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
9. Wisconsin
Total barista jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $28,276 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
10. California
Total barista jobs: 3,431 Average annual salary: $30,212 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 2.19
Barista jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a barista
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a barista
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $29,476 | $22,000 | 2,998,039 | 201 |
| 2 | Arizona | $29,064 | $22,000 | 7,016,270 | 391 |
| 3 | Maine | $30,990 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 49 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $29,059 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 442 |
| 5 | Michigan | $28,700 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 319 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $30,202 | $23,000 | 3,588,184 | 155 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $30,764 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 395 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $30,896 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 49 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $28,276 | $22,000 | 5,795,483 | 223 |
| 10 | California | $30,212 | $23,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,431 |
| 11 | New York | $29,821 | $23,000 | 19,849,399 | 763 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $30,654 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 29 |
| 13 | Ohio | $28,051 | $21,000 | 11,658,609 | 401 |
| 14 | Oregon | $28,725 | $22,000 | 4,142,776 | 301 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $29,534 | $22,000 | 9,005,644 | 387 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $27,798 | $21,000 | 2,088,070 | 99 |
| 17 | Indiana | $27,560 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 303 |
| 18 | Vermont | $30,820 | $25,000 | 623,657 | 14 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,033 | $22,000 | 7,405,743 | 714 |
| 20 | Idaho | $27,899 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 79 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $27,264 | $21,000 | 579,315 | 23 |
| 22 | Delaware | $28,675 | $22,000 | 961,939 | 40 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $27,691 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 44 |
| 24 | Illinois | $27,825 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 628 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,226 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 454 |
| 26 | Utah | $27,939 | $21,000 | 3,101,833 | 91 |
| 27 | Iowa | $27,457 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 118 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $28,079 | $21,000 | 693,972 | 79 |
| 29 | Maryland | $28,237 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 286 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $28,138 | $22,000 | 5,576,606 | 223 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $28,038 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 31 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $30,060 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 124 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $27,435 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 18 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $27,087 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 133 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $26,757 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 400 |
| 36 | Texas | $27,298 | $20,000 | 28,304,596 | 808 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $26,714 | $20,000 | 4,684,333 | 132 |
| 38 | Kansas | $27,000 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 110 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $27,166 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 58 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,884 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 109 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $26,688 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 83 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $26,677 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 156 |
| 43 | Virginia | $27,497 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 333 |
| 44 | Missouri | $27,042 | $20,000 | 6,113,532 | 219 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,277 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 42 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,033 | $19,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,041 |
| 47 | Alaska | $25,608 | $22,000 | 739,795 | 29 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,255 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 419 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $26,289 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 168 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $26,435 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 51 |
| 51 | Alabama | $26,324 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 128 |
Highest paying states for baristas
| Rank | State | Avg. Barista Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $29,476 |
| 2 | Arizona | $29,064 |
| 3 | Maine | $30,990 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $29,059 |
| 5 | Michigan | $28,700 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $30,202 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $30,764 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $30,896 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $28,276 |
| 10 | California | $30,212 |
| 11 | New York | $29,821 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $30,654 |
| 13 | Ohio | $28,051 |
| 14 | Oregon | $28,725 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $29,534 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $27,798 |
| 17 | Indiana | $27,560 |
| 18 | Vermont | $30,820 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,033 |
| 20 | Idaho | $27,899 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $27,264 |
| 22 | Delaware | $28,675 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $27,691 |
| 24 | Illinois | $27,825 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,226 |
| 26 | Utah | $27,939 |
| 27 | Iowa | $27,457 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $28,079 |
| 29 | Maryland | $28,237 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $28,138 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $28,038 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $30,060 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $27,435 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $27,087 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $26,757 |
| 36 | Texas | $27,298 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $26,714 |
| 38 | Kansas | $27,000 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $27,166 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,884 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $26,688 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $26,677 |
| 43 | Virginia | $27,497 |
| 44 | Missouri | $27,042 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,277 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,033 |
| 47 | Alaska | $25,608 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,255 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $26,289 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $26,435 |
| 51 | Alabama | $26,324 |
Barista best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025