# Baristas

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/baristas
- SOC code: 35-3023.01
- Career family: Food service
- Median annual pay: $31,200 (10th percentile $22,840, 90th percentile $42,650)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.8%
- Openings a year: 827,400
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Fast food and counter workers".

## Interest profile (code RSC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 76 |
| Investigative (I) | 1 |
| Artistic (A) | 27 |
| Social (S) | 45 |
| Enterprising (E) | 37 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 61/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 59/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 58/100)
- Getting Information (importance 57/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 54/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 50/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 46/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 45/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 45/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 44/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Service Orientation, Speaking, Coordination, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Operation and Control, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Sales and Marketing, Food Production, English Language, Personnel and Human Resources, Production and Processing, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Communications and Media

## Also called

Bobarista, Cafe Barista, Catering Barista, Coffee Bar Attendant, Coffee Barista, Coffee Brewer, Coffee Maker, Coffee Shop Attendant, Coffee Sommelier, Gourmet Coffee Attendant

## Related careers

- [Fast Food and Counter Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fast-food-and-counter-workers): $31,200 median pay
- [Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dining-room-and-cafeteria-attendants-and-bartender-helpers): $33,980 median pay
- [Food Preparation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-preparation-workers): $35,320 median pay
- [Food Servers, Nonrestaurant](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/food-servers-nonrestaurant): $35,360 median pay
- [Waiters and Waitresses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/waiters-and-waitresses): $35,230 median pay
- [Cooks, Short Order](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cooks-short-order): $35,880 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.