Barista/waitress demographics and statistics in the US
Barista/waitress demographics research summary. Zippia estimates barista/waitress demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our barista/waitress estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about barista/waitresses after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 411,252 barista/waitresses currently employed in the United States.
- 92.7% of all barista/waitresses are women, while 7.3% are men.
- The average barista/waitress age is 28 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of barista/waitresses is White (54.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.6%), Asian (9.5%) and Black or African American (9.1%).
- In 2022, women earned 97% of what men earned.
- 6% of all barista/waitresses are LGBT.
- Barista/waitresses are 70% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Barista/waitress demographics by:
Barista/waitress gender statistics
92.7% of barista/waitresses are women and 7.3% of barista/waitresses are men.
- Female, 92.7%
- Male, 7.3%
Barista/waitress gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 92.7% |
| Male | 7.3% |
Barista/waitress gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$29,086
Female income
$28,164
Barista/waitress gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in barista/waitress positions over time. Currently, 92.7% of barista/waitresses are female.
Barista/waitress gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.36% | 93.64% |
| 2011 | 6.41% | 93.59% |
| 2012 | 6.52% | 93.48% |
| 2013 | 6.89% | 93.11% |
| 2014 | 6.79% | 93.21% |
| 2015 | 7.03% | 92.97% |
| 2016 | 7.59% | 92.41% |
| 2017 | 7.27% | 92.73% |
| 2018 | 7.26% | 92.74% |
| 2019 | 7.22% | 92.78% |
| 2020 | 7.52% | 92.48% |
| 2021 | 7.27% | 92.73% |
Barista/waitress related jobs gender ratio
We compared barista/waitresses 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/Waitress | 7% | 93% |
| 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/waitress demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among barista/waitresses is White, which makes up 54.5% of all barista/waitresses. Comparatively, 20.6% of barista/waitresses are Hispanic or Latino and 9.5% of barista/waitresses are Asian.
- White, 54.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.6%
- Asian, 9.5%
- Black or African American, 9.1%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Barista/waitress race
| Barista/waitress race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.6% |
| Asian | 9.5% |
| Black or African American | 9.1% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Barista/waitress race and ethnicity over time
See how barista/waitress racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Barista/waitress race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.63% | 8.28% | 6.52% | 15.63% |
| 2011 | 65.28% | 9.33% | 6.82% | 15.53% |
| 2012 | 64.59% | 9.15% | 7.04% | 16.03% |
| 2013 | 63.94% | 8.93% | 7.03% | 16.94% |
| 2014 | 63.23% | 8.71% | 7.47% | 17.13% |
| 2015 | 61.03% | 9.03% | 7.69% | 18.58% |
| 2016 | 60.75% | 9.08% | 7.73% | 18.56% |
| 2017 | 60.22% | 9.07% | 7.79% | 18.99% |
| 2018 | 59.12% | 9.41% | 8.31% | 19.42% |
| 2019 | 59.94% | 8.99% | 8.52% | 18.81% |
| 2020 | 55.65% | 9.75% | 8.73% | 19.95% |
| 2021 | 54.49% | 9.13% | 9.46% | 20.59% |
Barista/waitress wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino barista/waitresses have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american barista/waitresses have the lowest average salary at $28,478.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $29,030 |
| White | $29,079 |
| Black or African American | $28,478 |
| Asian | $29,126 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $29,732 |
Average barista/waitress age
See how the average age of barista/waitresses varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Barista/waitress age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 24 | 25 |
| Unknown | 24 | 24 |
| Asian | 28 | 32 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 26 | 26 |
| White | 24 | 25 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 31 | 25 |
Barista/waitress age breakdown
The average age of barista/waitresses is 20-30 years years old, representing 48% of the barista/waitress population.
Barista/waitress age breakdown
| Barista/Waitress Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 15% |
| 30-40 years | 20% |
| 20-30 years | 48% |
Barista/waitress educational attainment
The most common degree for barista/waitresses is bachelor's degree, with 46% of barista/waitresses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 28% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
- Bachelor's, 46%
- High School Diploma, 28%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Barista/waitresses by degree level
| Barista/waitress degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 46% |
| High School Diploma | 28% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Barista/waitress jobs you might like
Barista/waitress wage gap by degree level
According to the data, barista/waitresses with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $32,354 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, barista/waitresses earn a median annual income of $31,346 compared to $29,890 for barista/waitresses with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $32,354 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $28,503 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,346 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $29,890 |
Barista/waitress employment statistics
Most barista/waitresses work for a private in the hospitality industry.
Company size where barista/waitresses work
Below, you can see the size of companies where barista/waitresses work.
Barista/waitress jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 13% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Barista/waitress jobs by company type
Employees with the barista/waitress job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most barista/waitresses prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Barista/waitress jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 70% |
| Government | 3% |
Barista/waitress jobs by industry
The most common industries for barista/waitresses are hospitality, retail and manufacturing.
Barista/waitress industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Hospitality | 26% |
| Retail | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Start-up | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Media | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Barista/waitress turnover and employment statistics
Barista/waitress unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for barista/waitresses between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Barista/waitress unemployment rate by year
| Year | Barista/waitress unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.70% |
| 2011 | 12.69% |
| 2012 | 11.74% |
| 2013 | 10.91% |
| 2014 | 9.64% |
| 2015 | 7.91% |
| 2016 | 7.56% |
| 2017 | 7.32% |
| 2018 | 6.98% |
| 2019 | 6.26% |
| 2020 | 13.68% |
| 2021 | 12.67% |
Average barista/waitress tenure
The average barista/waitress stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,219 barista/waitresses resumes in Zippia's database.
Barista/waitress tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 45% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 8% |
| 5-7 years | 9% |
| 8-10 years | 2% |
| 11+ years | 2% |
Barista/waitress LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of barista/waitresses 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barista/Waitress | 6.48% | - |
| Cotton Candy Maker | 6.98% | 6,985 |
| Barkeep | 7.82% | 25,046 |
| Cook, Cashier, And Waitress | 7.82% | 170,673 |
Similar barista/waitress jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton Candy Maker | 6.98% | 6,985 |
| Barkeep | 7.82% | 25,046 |
| Cook, Cashier, And Waitress | 7.82% | 170,673 |
Foreign languages spoken by barista/waitresses
The most common foreign language among barista/waitresses is Spanish at 48.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.9% and Italian is the third-most popular at 5.9%.
- Spanish, 48.5%
- French, 13.9%
- Italian, 5.9%
- Polish, 4.0%
- Russian, 4.0%
- Other, 23.7%
Barista/waitress languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 48.5% |
| French | 13.9% |
| Italian | 5.9% |
| Polish | 4.0% |
| Russian | 4.0% |
| Other | 23.7% |
