SOC 35-3023 · May 2024
Barista Salary
Baristas in the US earn a median of $30,480 a year ($15.07 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2024 wage survey. Average Barista pay climbed from $23,250 in 2019 to $31,350 in 2024, a +34.8% change in 5 years.
Median annual
$30,480
Half of all Baristas in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release.
Wage trend
+34.8% since 2019 · +4.1% YoY
Hourly
$15.07
Job growth 2025-35
+5.8%
US workers
3,780,930
BLS series
Annual median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Baristas is $22,620 – $38,800.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$22,620
25th
$27,150
Median
$30,480
75th
$35,440
90th
$38,800
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Baristas. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $22,620 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $27,150 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $30,480 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $35,440 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $38,800 |
Geography
Barista pay by state
Baristas earn the most in California ($42,280, +39% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($22,610). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$30,480
Highest-paying states for baristas
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $42,280 | +39% | 449,840 |
| Washington | $37,710 | +24% | 94,710 |
| D.C. | $37,430 | +23% | 5,500 |
| Colorado | $36,270 | +19% | 82,010 |
| Vermont | $36,030 | +18% | 6,830 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 | +18% | 85,810 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 | +16% | 35,720 |
| New York | $35,250 | +16% | 168,620 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 | +16% | 24,130 |
| Oregon | $35,050 | +15% | 59,920 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $42,280 | 449,840 |
| Washington | $37,710 | 94,710 |
| D.C. | $37,430 | 5,500 |
| Colorado | $36,270 | 82,010 |
| Vermont | $36,030 | 6,830 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 | 85,810 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 | 35,720 |
| New York | $35,250 | 168,620 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 | 24,130 |
| Oregon | $35,050 | 59,920 |
| Maine | $34,710 | 17,250 |
| Arizona | $34,230 | 77,210 |
| New Jersey | $34,150 | 93,730 |
| Illinois | $33,910 | 127,590 |
| Maryland | $33,660 | 49,380 |
| Alaska | $33,280 | 5,900 |
| Nevada | $31,950 | 45,850 |
| New Hampshire | $31,590 | 14,540 |
| Rhode Island | $31,490 | 13,310 |
| Minnesota | $31,370 | 58,970 |
| Delaware | $31,300 | 13,310 |
| Missouri | $30,390 | 29,360 |
| Virginia | $30,110 | 104,460 |
| North Dakota | $30,080 | 11,470 |
| South Dakota | $29,490 | 15,150 |
| Montana | $29,090 | 14,960 |
| Florida | $29,080 | 235,400 |
| Nebraska | $29,000 | 30,060 |
| Idaho | $28,940 | 25,810 |
| Michigan | $28,930 | 103,130 |
| Indiana | $28,790 | 97,290 |
| New Mexico | $28,700 | 28,250 |
| Utah | $28,670 | 52,340 |
| Wisconsin | $28,600 | 67,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,570 | 142,220 |
| North Carolina | $28,570 | 92,230 |
| Ohio | $28,430 | 163,560 |
| Iowa | $28,390 | 40,290 |
| Wyoming | $27,860 | 7,060 |
| Texas | $27,740 | 460,530 |
| Kansas | $27,580 | 47,140 |
| South Carolina | $27,520 | 65,070 |
| Tennessee | $27,470 | 90,690 |
| Kentucky | $27,130 | 41,860 |
| Georgia | $26,920 | 145,030 |
| Arkansas | $26,250 | 35,660 |
| West Virginia | $26,070 | 6,240 |
| Alabama | $23,700 | 41,460 |
| Oklahoma | $23,430 | 52,520 |
| Louisiana | $22,800 | 45,720 |
| Mississippi | $22,610 | 31,220 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Baristas
Baristas prepare and serve coffee and espresso-based drinks in cafes, restaurants, and retail food locations. The role combines drink preparation, customer service, point-of-sale operations, and food safety. Most positions require no formal education; on-the-job training covers equipment operation and recipe consistency. Pay varies sharply by region, employer (chain vs independent), and tip income, which the OEWS figures do not include.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $22,620 – $38,800. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Washington and D.C.. Pay in California runs 1.9 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as no formal educational credential, and projects about 827,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Barista salary in the US?
How much does a Barista make an hour?
How much do Baristas make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Baristas the most?
Is the average Barista salary higher than the median?
Is Barista a growing career?
Open positions
Open Barista roles hiring now
Browse current Barista listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 35-3023. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.