Hourly Wage for Barista Salary in the United States

How much does a Barista make hourly?

As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Barista in the United States is $13, which translates to an annual salary of about $27,512.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $15 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $12 to $14 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $11 per hour
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $12 10% $11 90% $15 75% $14 $13 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Barista Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $29,466 $2,456 $567 $14
Average $27,512 $2,293 $529 $13
25th Percentile $25,276 $2,106 $486 $12
Check out Barista Job Openings in the United States
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Dunkin' - Streetsboro, OH

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HMSHost - Cleveland, OH

Barista

Crescent - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Barista Salaries

A Barista's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Barista Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Barista's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $27,112
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $27,949
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $28,387
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $28,474
  • Expert (over 8 years): $28,533
Levels Salary
Entry Level Barista$27,112
Intermediate Level Barista$27,949
Senior Level Barista$28,387
Specialist Level Barista$28,474
Expert Level Barista$28,533
$27,112 0 yr
$27,949 < 2 yrs
$28,387 2-4 yrs
$28,474 5-8 yrs
$28,533 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Baristas

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $34,701
  • San Francisco: $34,321
  • Oakland: $33,598

What Skills Can Increase a Barista's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 20.39% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • HACCP (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 0.88% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 20.39%
HACCP 2.33%
Food Handling 0.88%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Barista's salary.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Product Quality: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching
 $30,813
12%
Innovation
 $29,713
8%
Product Quality
 $29,438
7%
Teamwork
 $29,163
6%
Organizational Skills
 $29,163
6%
Leadership
 $28,888
5%
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Barista Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Barista salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $29,465. While startup companies pay approximate $24,991.

Barista Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$24,991
Growth Stage51~500$26,411
Established501~5000$28,475
Enterprise5000+$29,465

Barista Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Barista roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Barista positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Barista as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Barista

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$33,014$16.020%

Barista Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Barista's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$25,276
Average $27,512/year
$29,466
$2,106
Average $2,293/month
$2,456
$486
Average $529/week
$567
$12
Average $13/hour
$14
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $29,466 $2,456 $567 $14
Average $27,512 $2,293 $529 $13
25th Percentile $25,276 $2,106 $486 $12

Salaries of jobs related to Barista

Salary Trends for Barista

Salaries for a Barista can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $30,803 in 2023 to around $30,299 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Barista salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Barista Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$30,803
2024
$30,654
2025
$30,299
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $30,803
2024 $30,654
2025 $30,299
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Barista

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Barista

Here are companies hiring for Barista and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Barista

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Barista?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Barista roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. What are the responsibilities of Barista?

Greets customers, identifies their needs, and answers questions about menu items. Prepares and serves hot and cold beverages such as coffee, espresso, cappuccino, tea, chai, and similar beverages. May prepare and serve limited food items. Records sales, operates a cash register, and follows cash handling policies as required. May assist with store set-up, clean-up, and stocking of merchandise. May require a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

3. What are the skills of Barista

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.

2.)

HACCP: HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement to manufacturing and consumption of the finished product.

3.)

Food Handling: Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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