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Barista salary
Average barista salary
$14.2
Understanding Barista Salaries
The average barista salary in the United States stands at approximately $29,528 annually, which translates to about $14 per hour. This figure can vary widely depending on several factors including geographical location, years of experience, and the type of coffee shop or café where one is employed.
Factors Influencing Salary
For instance, baristas working in urban areas tend to earn more than those in rural settings. States like Washington and California often report higher average salaries due to higher living costs. Additionally, a barista with several years of experience may command a higher wage compared to an entry-level worker.
Opportunities for Advancement
Baristas can also explore additional income opportunities through tips and commissions on specialty drinks. Upskilling in areas like coffee brewing techniques or customer service can lead to promotions or higher-paying positions, making the barista role not only a job but a potential career path in the coffee industry.
Salary Over Time
Historically, barista salaries have shown a gradual increase as the demand for specialty coffee continues to rise. With a growing coffee culture in the U.S., aspiring baristas have a promising outlook for job opportunities and wage growth.
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Where can a Barista earn more?
Barista salary estimates from across the web
Average barista salary by state
The highest-paying states for baristas are Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The lowest average barista salary states are Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for baristas
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $29,476 | $14.17 |
| 2 | Arizona | $29,064 | $13.97 |
| 3 | Maine | $30,990 | $14.90 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $29,059 | $13.97 |
| 5 | Michigan | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $30,202 | $14.52 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $30,764 | $14.79 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $30,896 | $14.85 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $28,276 | $13.59 |
| 10 | California | $30,212 | $14.53 |
| 11 | New York | $29,821 | $14.34 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $30,654 | $14.74 |
| 13 | Ohio | $28,051 | $13.49 |
| 14 | Oregon | $28,725 | $13.81 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $29,534 | $14.20 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $27,798 | $13.36 |
| 17 | Indiana | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| 18 | Vermont | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| 19 | Washington | $28,033 | $13.48 |
| 20 | Idaho | $27,899 | $13.41 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $27,264 | $13.11 |
| 22 | Delaware | $28,675 | $13.79 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $27,691 | $13.31 |
| 24 | Illinois | $27,825 | $13.38 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,226 | $13.09 |
| 26 | Utah | $27,939 | $13.43 |
| 27 | Iowa | $27,457 | $13.20 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $28,079 | $13.50 |
| 29 | Maryland | $28,237 | $13.58 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $28,138 | $13.53 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $28,038 | $13.48 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $27,435 | $13.19 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $27,087 | $13.02 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $26,757 | $12.86 |
| 36 | Texas | $27,298 | $13.12 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $26,714 | $12.84 |
| 38 | Kansas | $27,000 | $12.98 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $27,166 | $13.06 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,884 | $12.93 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $26,688 | $12.83 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $26,677 | $12.83 |
| 43 | Virginia | $27,497 | $13.22 |
| 44 | Missouri | $27,042 | $13.00 |
| 45 | Montana | $27,277 | $13.11 |
| 46 | Florida | $26,033 | $12.52 |
| 47 | Alaska | $25,608 | $12.31 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,255 | $12.62 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $26,289 | $12.64 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $26,435 | $12.71 |
| 51 | Alabama | $26,324 | $12.66 |
Highest paying cities for baristas
The highest-paying cities for baristas are Portland, ME, Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $30,977 | $14.89 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $30,844 | $14.83 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $30,659 | $14.74 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $29,723 | $14.29 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,482 | $14.17 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,087 | $13.98 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,086 | $13.98 |
| 8 | Washington, UT | $28,839 | $13.86 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $28,617 | $13.76 |
| 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | $28,602 | $13.75 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $28,583 | $13.74 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $28,348 | $13.63 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $28,259 | $13.59 |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $28,064 | $13.49 |
| 16 | Arlington, VA | $28,055 | $13.49 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $28,025 | $13.47 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $27,918 | $13.42 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $27,605 | $13.27 |
| 20 | Richmond, IN | $27,601 | $13.27 |
Baristas are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Barista salary details
A barista's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a barista's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,528 | $2,461 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying barista jobs
The highest paying types of baristas are lead barista, barista trainer, and certified barista.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server/Barista | $30,749 | $2,562 | $14.78 | 173,073 |
| Lead Barista | $33,918 | $2,826 | $16.31 | 70,195 |
Top companies hiring baristas now:
Which companies pay baristas the most?
Barista salaries at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Boring Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average barista salary at companies like Masimo and Atlas Corps are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $40,680 | $19.56 |
| 2 | The Boring Company | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 3 | Masimo | $38,734 | $18.62 |
| 4 | Atlas Corps | $38,079 | $18.31 |
| 5 | Oregon Health & Science University | $38,054 | $18.30 |
| 6 | Peet's Coffee | $37,954 | $18.25 |
| 7 | University of Washington | $37,546 | $18.05 |
| 8 | WeatherTech | $36,871 | $17.73 |
| 9 | Northwest Center | $36,758 | $17.67 |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology | $36,712 | $17.65 |
| 11 | Sentry | $36,428 | $17.51 |
| 12 | All American Group | $35,961 | $17.29 |
| 13 | Target | $35,905 | $17.26 |
| 14 | Aspen Snowmass | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| 15 | The Syndicate | $34,329 | $16.50 |
| 16 | Goldbelt Falcon | $34,297 | $16.49 |
| 17 | Mcs | $34,158 | $16.42 |
| 18 | Caribou Coffee | $34,142 | $16.41 |
| 19 | Mercy Corps | $34,077 | $16.38 |
| 20 | Freight House, Inc | $34,063 | $16.38 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Barista salary trends
The average barista salary has risen by $7,443 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average barista earned $22,085 annually, but today, they earn $29,528 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for baristas over the last decade.
Compare barista salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average barista salary over time
Compare barista salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Barista salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,500 | $14.20 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $28,200 | $13.54 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | $26,600 | $12.81 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | $25,400 | $12.21 | +6.2% |
| 2021 | $23,800 | $11.46 | +3.7% |
Recently added barista salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Group, North America | Barista | Wilmington, DE | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Peopleready | Barista | Hanover, NH | 06/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Barista | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $23,437 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista (T1313) | Troy, MI | 06/30/2025 | $32,349 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista | New York, NY | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista (T1839) | Hadley, MA | 06/30/2025 | $37,044 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista (T2919) | Wesley Chapel, FL | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista (T2660)-All Locations Except CA | Kahului, HI | 06/30/2025 | $38,610 |
| Target | Starbucks Barista (T3306) | South Burlington, VT | 06/30/2025 | $38,088 |
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