Baristas
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Makes hot and cold drinks—espresso, regular coffee, blended coffees, tea—and may also put together sandwiches or salads. Orders are taken at the counter; some are passed to coworkers to make, and payments are processed there. Part of the job is describing what is on the menu and suggesting something a customer might like, then serving muffins, bagels, or similar baked goods. Work areas, utensils, equipment, and seating get cleaned and sanitized throughout the day. Works well for people who like making drinks to order, talking through menu choices, and keeping the service and seating area tidy.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$31'200
Median Wage Market Position
$31'200
What you might do
- Make espresso, coffee, and blended drinks
- Take orders and pass them to others
- Describe drinks and suggest what to try
- Serve muffins, biscotti, and bagels
- Make sandwiches or salads from the menu
- Take payment and wipe down equipment
Skills that matter
- Taking specialty drink and food orders
- Hot and cold beverage preparation
- Clear descriptions of menu items
- Suggestions for drinks and baked goods
- Order handoffs to other employees
- Receiving and processing customer payments
AI & the future of this role
Automated brew equipment and ordering apps may handle more of the repetitive drink steps. Craft beverages, taste judgment, and the face-to-face café experience still depend on skilled hands and quick social cues.
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Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details