Coffee Shop Barista Salary in the United States

How much does a Coffee Shop Barista make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Coffee Shop Barista in the United States is $26,274 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $13.

However, a Coffee Shop Barista's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $29,860
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $23,934 to $28,151
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $21,804
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View as table View as graph 25% $23,934 10% $21,804 90% $29,860 75% $28,151 $26,274 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Coffee Shop Barista Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $28,151 $2,346 $541 $14
Average $26,274 $2,189 $505 $13
25th Percentile $23,934 $1,995 $460 $12
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Key Factors That Influence Coffee Shop Barista Salaries

A Coffee Shop 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 Coffee Shop Barista Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Coffee Shop 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): $26,371
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $27,187
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $27,612
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $27,697
  • Expert (over 8 years): $27,754
Levels Salary
Entry Level Coffee Shop Barista$26,371
Intermediate Level Coffee Shop Barista$27,187
Senior Level Coffee Shop Barista$27,612
Specialist Level Coffee Shop Barista$27,697
Expert Level Coffee Shop Barista$27,754
$26,371 0 yr
$27,187 < 2 yrs
$27,612 2-4 yrs
$27,697 5-8 yrs
$27,754 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Coffee Shop 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: $33,139
  • San Francisco: $32,813
  • Oakland: $32,086

What Skills Can Increase a Coffee Shop 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 Coffee Shop 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
$29,427
12%
Innovation
$28,376
8%
Product Quality
$28,113
7%
Teamwork
$27,850
6%
Organizational Skills
$27,850
6%
Leadership
$27,588
5%
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Coffee Shop Barista Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Coffee Shop 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Coffee Shop Barista

Salaries for a Coffee Shop Barista can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $29,938 in 2023 to around $29,448 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Coffee Shop Barista salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Coffee Shop Barista Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$29,938
2024
$29,793
2025
$29,448
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $29,938
2024 $29,793
2025 $29,448
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Coffee Shop Barista

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

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

Find Your Next Coffee Shop Barista Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Coffee Shop Barista job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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