Barista demographics and statistics in the US
Barista demographics research summary. Zippia estimates barista demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our barista estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about baristas after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 474,463 baristas currently employed in the United States.
- 69.7% of all baristas are women, while 30.3% are men.
- The average barista age is 23 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of baristas is White (57.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.6%), Black or African American (9.6%) and Unknown (6.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 101% of what men earned.
- 8% of all baristas are LGBT.
- Baristas are 73% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Barista demographics by:
Barista gender statistics
69.7% of baristas are women and 30.3% of baristas are men.
- Female, 69.7%
- Male, 30.3%
Barista gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 69.7% |
| Male | 30.3% |
Barista gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$30,108
Female income
$30,352
Barista gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in barista positions over time. Currently, 69.7% of baristas are female.
Barista gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29.97% | 70.03% |
| 2011 | 29.62% | 70.38% |
| 2012 | 25.38% | 74.62% |
| 2013 | 29.49% | 70.51% |
| 2014 | 28.87% | 71.13% |
| 2015 | 28.07% | 71.93% |
| 2016 | 30.10% | 69.90% |
| 2017 | 32.85% | 67.15% |
| 2018 | 31.23% | 68.77% |
| 2019 | 32.26% | 67.74% |
| 2020 | 31.53% | 68.47% |
| 2021 | 30.31% | 69.69% |
Barista related jobs gender ratio
We compared baristas with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, busboy/waiter and host/waiter have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Barmaid | 5% | 95% |
| Head Waitress | 5% | 95% |
| Bartender, Cook, And Waitress | 5% | 95% |
| Barista | 30% | 70% |
| Bar Back & Bartender | 86% | 14% |
| Host/Waiter | 90% | 10% |
| Busboy/Waiter | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Barista demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among baristas is White, which makes up 57.5% of all baristas. Comparatively, 18.6% of baristas are Hispanic or Latino and 9.6% of baristas are Black or African American.
- White, 57.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.6%
- Black or African American, 9.6%
- Unknown, 6.9%
- Asian, 6.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Barista race
| Barista race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.6% |
| Black or African American | 9.6% |
| Unknown | 6.9% |
| Asian | 6.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Barista race and ethnicity over time
See how barista racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Barista race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.34% | 9.13% | 3.69% | 11.95% |
| 2011 | 67.95% | 11.05% | 4.79% | 12.64% |
| 2012 | 69.94% | 10.13% | 3.56% | 13.08% |
| 2013 | 69.81% | 10.93% | 3.38% | 12.04% |
| 2014 | 71.49% | 9.14% | 3.34% | 12.38% |
| 2015 | 67.30% | 8.91% | 4.26% | 14.38% |
| 2016 | 66.28% | 8.97% | 3.80% | 15.92% |
| 2017 | 68.29% | 7.59% | 6.14% | 14.37% |
| 2018 | 64.11% | 11.49% | 5.21% | 15.12% |
| 2019 | 62.41% | 10.01% | 6.21% | 17.04% |
| 2020 | 59.95% | 9.82% | 6.36% | 16.74% |
| 2021 | 57.47% | 9.64% | 6.49% | 18.63% |
Barista wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino baristas have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american baristas have the lowest average salary at $29,646.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $29,967 |
| White | $30,079 |
| Black or African American | $29,646 |
| Asian | $30,403 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $30,452 |
Average barista age
See how the average age of baristas varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Barista age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 22.5 | 21 |
| Unknown | 21 | 20.5 |
| Asian | 21 | 22 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 22 |
| White | 21 | 21 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 21 |
Barista age breakdown
The average age of baristas is 20-30 years years old, representing 51% of the barista population.
Barista age breakdown
| Barista Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 3% |
| 30-40 years | 12% |
| 20-30 years | 51% |
Barista educational attainment
The most common degree for baristas is bachelor's degree, with 43% of baristas earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 30% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
- Bachelor's, 43%
- High School Diploma, 30%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Baristas by degree level
| Barista degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 43% |
| High School Diploma | 30% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Barista jobs you might like
Barista wage gap by degree level
According to the data, baristas with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $31,228 annually. With a Associate degree, baristas earn a median annual income of $30,806 compared to $29,444 for baristas with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $29,444 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,228 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $30,806 |
Barista employment statistics
Most baristas work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where baristas work
Below, you can see the size of companies where baristas work.
Barista jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 24% |
Barista jobs by company type
Employees with the barista job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most baristas prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Barista jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 73% |
| Government | 0% |
Barista jobs by industry
The most common industries for baristas are hospitality, retail and manufacturing.
Barista industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 36% |
| Retail | 21% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Media | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Barista turnover and employment statistics
Barista unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for baristas between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Barista unemployment rate by year
| Year | Barista unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 18.11% |
| 2011 | 17.49% |
| 2012 | 16.09% |
| 2013 | 15.66% |
| 2014 | 13.47% |
| 2015 | 10.82% |
| 2016 | 10.79% |
| 2017 | 9.38% |
| 2018 | 9.31% |
| 2019 | 8.07% |
| 2020 | 9.90% |
| 2021 | 9.86% |
Average barista tenure
The average barista stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 134,892 baristas resumes in Zippia's database.
Barista tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 40% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 2% |
Barista LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of baristas that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Take Out Waitress | 6.48% | 62,855 |
| Catering Associate | 6.98% | 3,045 |
| Bartender Manager | 7.82% | 96,408 |
| Barista | 7.82% | - |
Similar barista jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Take Out Waitress | 6.48% | 62,855 |
| Catering Associate | 6.98% | 3,045 |
| Bartender Manager | 7.82% | 96,408 |
Foreign languages spoken by baristas
The most common foreign language among baristas is Spanish at 57.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.8% and German is the third-most popular at 4.4%.
- Spanish, 57.7%
- French, 10.8%
- German, 4.4%
- Mandarin, 3.1%
- Chinese, 3.1%
- Other, 20.9%
Barista languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 57.7% |
| French | 10.8% |
| German | 4.4% |
| Mandarin | 3.1% |
| Chinese | 3.1% |
| Other | 20.9% |
