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Baristas

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Prepare or serve specialty coffee or other beverages. Serve food such as baked goods or sandwiches to patrons.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $31,200 Median per year · $15.00/hr Most earn $22,840–$42,650

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Create signs to advertise store products or events.
  • Slice fruits, vegetables, desserts, or meats for use in food service.
  • Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
  • Demonstrate the use of retail equipment, such as espresso machines.
  • Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 827,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Special food services3.8%
  • Grocery and specialty food retailers3.5%
  • Full-service restaurants2.9%
  • Elementary and secondary schools2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Baristas usually start with just a high school diploma and no prior experience, so this is an entry-level job you can begin right after school or training. Most people learn the job on the floor in a few weeks to a few months.

  1. High school diploma

    about 4 years

    Finish high school with good customer service, math for handling cash, and communication skills, since these matter most at the counter.

  2. Barista

    0-1 year to learn the job

    Learn to make espresso and other drinks, serve customers quickly, keep the bar clean, and handle food like baked goods and sandwiches. Strong skills here lead to supervisor roles.

Where it can lead

  1. Shift Supervisor

    1-2 years as a barista of experience first

    You lead a shift, train new staff, handle openings and closings, and solve customer problems. Showing reliability and good teamwork usually earns this role.

  2. Assistant Manager

    2-4 years in a supervisor role of experience first

    You help run the whole café, including scheduling, ordering supplies, and tracking sales. It takes strong organization and leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and business or marketing classesBasic math helps with making change and counting inventory, and business classes teach you how shops operate.
  • Get a part-time job at a café, restaurant, or grocery storeAny customer-facing job lets you practice serving people, working under pressure, and working on a team.
  • Take a food handler or food safety course if your area offers oneKnowing food safety rules is useful for handling food and drinks and makes you a stronger job candidate.
  • Volunteer at a school or community event serving food or drinksHelping at bake sales, fundraisers, or events builds customer service skills and shows responsibility.

In college

  • Work a campus or off-campus job in food service or retailCampus dining, coffee kiosks, and retail jobs give you steady experience with customers and busy shifts.
  • Join a student club or organization that runs eventsPlanning events or leading a group builds the teamwork and leadership skills that help you move up to shift supervisor.
  • Take a few business, communication, or customer service classesThese courses help if you later want to move into management or run your own café.
  • Get a food handler or barista training certificate if your school or town offers oneA certificate shows employers you know food safety and drink-making basics before your first interview.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice your drink-making and speed on your own or at home, and ask a coffee shop manager if you can shadow a shift to see the job up close.
  • Show up on time, stay calm when the line is long, and be friendly. Employers hire baristas for attitude and reliability more than for experience.
  • Look for a part-time job or volunteer role that involves customers, such as at a restaurant, grocery store, or event booth, so you have real work experience to point to.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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