SALARY · BARISTA
Barista salary in 2026
Median pay, hourly rates, top-paying cities, and live barista jobs from MAJC's coverage area. Numbers below combine U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with 30 active postings.
Median (national)
$29,540
$14.20/hr · BLS May 2024
Top 10 percent
$41K+
$19.58/hr effective
National pay for baristas
$29,540median, full year
About $14.20/hr. Top 10 percent earn $41K+.
BLS Occupation 35-3023Fast Food and Counter Workers, May 2024. Source
Barista pay by city
MAJC-active metros with at least one disclosed barista salary in the last 14 days. Median is across disclosed postings only; sample size noted per row.
| City | Active | Median posted | vs national | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 11 | — | — | See 11 → |
| Miami | 10 | — | — | See 10 → |
| Coral Gables | 2 | — | — | See 2 → |
| Miami Beach | 1 | — | — | See 1 → |
How baristas push pay above median
- Volume + format leverage. High-cover-count concepts (200+ covers, multi-outlet hotels) pay more than small independents — same role, different scope.
- Specialized knowledge. Wine or spirits certification, specific cuisine training, or technical systems (POS, inventory) all command premiums.
- Bilingual fluency. English/Spanish in the U.S. hospitality market is consistently worth a meaningful bump.
- Tenure + leadership. "Lead" or "Head" prefixes typically signal 15–30% over an "Associate" version of the same role.
- Disclosed-salary postings. Filter MAJC for barista jobs with disclosed pay — those tend to be the ones that compete on number, not vibes.
Top-paying live barista jobs right now
Highest disclosed salaries across 30 active barista postings.
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barista - Store# 20490, DURAM & LOOP 610
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Key Holder/Barista (Part-Time) @ Sheraton Miami Airport
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BARISTA (FULL TIME)
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barista - Store# 27057, LOOP 610 & BRAESWOOD
Frequently asked
- What is the average barista salary?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual pay for fast food and counter workers is $29,540 ($14.20/hr) as of May 2024. The top 10% earn $41K or more.
- How much does a barista make per hour?
- BLS reports a median hourly rate of $14.20/hr for fast food and counter workers. Tipped roles (server, bartender, busser) can substantially exceed the base hourly with gratuities.
- Which cities pay baristas the most?
- Major metros (Miami, Houston, and high-tourist coastal cities) typically pay baristas 10–20% above the national median. See the city breakdown above for live disclosed rates.
- What skills increase barista pay the most?
- In hospitality, the biggest pay drivers are: specialized cuisine or beverage knowledge, fluency in a second language (Spanish in the U.S.), high-volume service experience, and proven leadership of a team. POS proficiency (Toast, Tock, Resy) and inventory or P&L responsibility also push pay above median.
- How do I find a barista job that pays above median?
- Filter MAJC's barista listings by "Salary listed" to surface postings with disclosed pay, then sort by salary. Hotels and high-cover-count restaurants tend to disclose more often than smaller independents. Browse all 30 barista listings below.