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Baristas in Colorado

Considering working as a Baristas in Colorado? Here’s what the data says. Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in “Waiters and Waitresses” (35-3031),

What do Baristas Make in Colorado?

For baristas working in Colorado, the median annual wage is $35,440 per year (or about $17.04/hour).Earnings range from $30,260 at the 10th percentile to $42,600 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$30,260	$14.55
25th percentile	$31,740	$15.26
Median (50th)	$35,440	$17.04
75th percentile	$36,960	$17.77
90th percentile	$42,600	$20.48

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Colorado relative to the national average — is 1.11, suggesting that baristas are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, baristas earn a median of $29,815 per year ($14.33/hour), above the Colorado median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 883,432 baristas across the United States. In Colorado alone, approximately 78,720 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 44,110 baristas.

Top Colorado Metros for Baristas

The metro areas below employ the most baristas in Colorado.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	42,620	$36,310
Colorado Springs, CO	10,910	$32,770
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	5,210	$34,380
Boulder, CO	4,510	$36,130
Greeley, CO	3,190	$31,840
Grand Junction, CO	2,330	$31,390
Pueblo, CO	1,970	$30,300

Top States for Baristas Employment

The table below shows the states where the most baristas work.

State	Number Employed
California	438,950
Texas	410,760
Florida	241,010
New York	183,810
Ohio	167,650
Georgia	151,240
Illinois	139,090
Pennsylvania	131,650
Michigan	114,880
Virginia	103,390
Indiana	101,500
Washington	94,830
New Jersey	86,980
Arizona	86,640
North Carolina	85,120
Tennessee	84,170
Massachusetts	81,770
Colorado	78,720
South Carolina	63,380
Wisconsin	60,570

Highest-Paying States for Baristas

The highest-paying states for baristas.

State	Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia	$38,240
California	$37,010
Washington	$36,820
Colorado	$35,440
New York	$35,270
Massachusetts	$35,060
Vermont	$34,540
Alaska	$34,430
Oregon	$34,430
Maine	$34,360

Skills

The most important baristas skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for baristas, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Baristas typically:

• 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 or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
• Describe menu items to customers, or suggest products that might appeal to them.
• Clean service or seating areas.
• Serve prepared foods, such as muffins, biscotti, or bagels.
• Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
• Set up or restock product displays.
• Weigh, grind, or pack coffee beans for customers.
• Stock customer service stations with paper products or beverage preparation items.
• Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.

Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Training and Teaching Others
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Getting Information
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like baristas include:

• Food Service Managers
• Chefs and Head Cooks
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
• Cooks, Fast Food
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
• Cooks, Private Household

Also Known As

Barista, Cafe Barista, Catering Barista, Coffee Bar Attendant, Coffee Barista, Coffee Brewer, Coffee Maker, Coffee Shop Attendant, Coffee Sommelier, Gourmet Coffee Attendant, Juicer, Server.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 35-3023.01