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What is a barista/shift leader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a barista/shift leader. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.23 an hour? That's $31,670 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 14% and produce 775,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreBarista/Shift LeaderUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $31,670

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.1

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 6.52%

Black or African American 9.60%

Hispanic or Latino 20.60%

Unknown 5.49%

White 56.92%

Gender

female 68.95%

male 31.05%

Age - 34
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34
Stress level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Barista/shift leader career paths

Key steps to become a barista/shift leader

  1. Explore barista/shift leader education requirements

    Most common barista/shift leader degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.0 %

    High School Diploma

    21.5 %

    Associate

    20.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific barista/shift leader skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service14.38%
    Cleanliness12.64%
    POS11.67%
    Food Preparation8.42%
    BARS7.72%
  3. Complete relevant barista/shift leader training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New barista/shift leaders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a barista/shift leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real barista/shift leader resumes.
  4. Research barista/shift leader duties and responsibilities

    • Manage high-volume university caf and bakery.
    • Greet clientele, resolve minor customer issues, cash handling, POS processing, daily inventory and restocking of supplies.
    • Delegate tasks to create the Starbucks' experience.
    • Greet customers as they arrive at the Starbucks outlet and inquire into their orders.
  5. Get barista/shift leader experience

  6. Apply for barista/shift leader jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a barista/shift leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first barista/shift leader job

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Average barista/shift leader salary

The average barista/shift leader salary in the United States is $31,670 per year or $15 per hour. Barista/shift leader salaries range between $25,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average barista/shift leader salary
$31,670 Yearly
$15.23 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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