---

Baristas in Washington

Considering working as a Baristas in Washington? 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 Washington?

For baristas working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $36,820 per year (or roughly $17.70/hour).Earnings range from $34,420 at the 10th percentile to $46,320 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$34,420	$16.55
25th percentile	$35,410	$17.02
Median (50th)	$36,820	$17.70
75th percentile	$42,270	$20.32
90th percentile	$46,320	$22.27

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Washington relative to the national average — is 1.09.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, baristas earn a median of $29,815 per year ($14.33/hour), higher than the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 883,432 baristas across the United States. In Washington alone, approximately 94,830 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 44,110 baristas.

Top Washington Metros for Baristas

The metro areas below employ the most baristas in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	51,590	$38,310
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	7,730	$34,880
Kennewick-Richland, WA	3,880	$35,480
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	3,530	$35,710
Yakima, WA	2,980	$34,950
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	2,920	$36,190
Bellingham, WA	2,820	$35,680
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	1,550	$35,050
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	1,480	$36,010
Longview-Kelso, WA	1,340	$35,190
Walla Walla, WA	820	$34,190

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

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

Knowledge Areas

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

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for baristas, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, 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

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: 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