Food and Beverage Serving Workers

How to become a Barista

Official title: Baristas

Also called: Bobarista, Catering Barista

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

Main tasks

Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
Receive and process customer payments.
Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
Clean service or seating areas.
Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.
Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.

How to become one

Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $31,200 a year The middle half earn $27,700 to $36,070.
About 3,855,900 people work in this job now, and about 4,079,100 are projected by 2035. (+5.8%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Barista?

Food and beverage serving and related workers typically have no requirements for formal education or work experience to enter the occupation. They learn their skills on the job.

How much does a Barista earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $31,200 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $27,700 to $36,070.

Is a Barista a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 3,855,900 to about 4,079,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Barista?

Usually not. Only 18% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Barista?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.