Most Starbucks baristas in the USA earn about $15 to $19 an hour. Full-time, that is roughly $31,000 to $39,500 a year before tips and bonuses.
This guide uses the latest reported pay, the changes Starbucks has announced and a pay grid you can use to work out your own numbers.
Pay depends on your city, your hours and your store, so treat the figures below as ranges and check local job postings.
Starbucks Barista Pay in the USA at a Glance
| Role or measure | Hourly pay | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks barista (reported range) | $16 to $19 | Glassdoor, 53,140 salaries submitted, 2026 |
| Starbucks barista (reported average) | $15.23, with a range of $9.62 to $21.15 | ZipRecruiter, as of September 3, 2026 |
| Food and beverage serving workers, which include baristas (median) | $15.24 ($31,710 a year) | BLS, May 2025 |
| Shift supervisor (reported range) | $20 to $24 | Glassdoor, 14,415 salaries submitted, 2026 |
| Store manager (reported range) | $31 to $40, about $64,500 to $83,200 a year at 40 hours a week | Glassdoor, 6,156 salaries submitted, 2026 |
These sources use different methods, so their numbers differ. Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter show pay that people reported, and the BLS figure covers many food and beverage serving jobs besides baristas.
What to Expect for Starbucks Pay in 2027
Starbucks has announced changes that affect what baristas can take home. The company said in April 2026 that baristas and shift supervisors can earn up to an additional $1,200 a year through the new Best of Starbucks Reward, paid at $300 per quarter. The program started in July 2026 and depends on meeting sales, operational and customer service targets.
Starbucks also said it would move all U.S. partners to weekly pay beginning in August 2026 and let customers tip by card through Mobile Order & Pay and Scan & Pay. It said the reward, expanded tipping and weekly pay could together raise eligible partners’ earnings by about 5% to 8% on average, and that tips are not guaranteed. At the roughly 5% of U.S. locations with unions, the new program is subject to bargaining.
Because no 2027 hourly scale exists yet, the safest way to plan is to use today’s hourly rate and add the reward and tips only as possible extras.
Starbucks Barista Pay Grid: Yearly Earnings by Hourly Rate and Hours
Yearly earnings below are the hourly rate times weekly hours times 52 weeks, before taxes, tips and bonuses.
| Hourly pay | 20 hours a week | 30 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | $15,600 | $23,400 | $31,200 |
| $16 | $16,640 | $24,960 | $33,280 |
| $17 | $17,680 | $26,520 | $35,360 |
| $18 | $18,720 | $28,080 | $37,440 |
| $19 | $19,760 | $29,640 | $39,520 |
| $20 | $20,800 | $31,200 | $41,600 |
| $21 | $21,840 | $32,760 | $43,680 |
For example, a barista paid $17 an hour for 30 hours a week earns $26,520 a year, and the full Best of Starbucks Reward would add up to $1,200 on top.
What Changes a Barista’s Pay
- Location. ZipRecruiter’s highest-paying cities were in California and Vermont at about $17.94 to $18.68 an hour, while its Columbus, Ohio figure was $30,603 a year.
- Hours. Starbucks says benefits start at 20 hours a week or more.
- Role. Shift supervisors and managers earn more per hour than baristas.
- Union status. Pay may follow bargained schedules in unionized stores.
- Tips and rewards. Tips vary by store and shift, and the reward depends on store targets.
Starbucks Benefits for Baristas
Starbucks says total compensation and benefits are available at 20 hours a week or more and are valued at an average of $30 an hour for an hourly role. That is Starbucks’ own estimate, so compare it with your actual offer.
- Healthcare. Comprehensive healthcare at 20 hours a week or more.
- Bean Stock. The company’s equity rewards program.
- Tuition. 100% upfront tuition coverage for a bachelor’s degree.
- Parental leave. 18 weeks of paid parental leave.
- Retirement and savings. A 401(k) with a company match up to 5%, an optional quarterly stock purchase plan and My Starbucks Savings, which earns up to $250 when milestones are reached.
Barista Job Facts From the BLS
| Fact (BLS, food and beverage serving workers) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $31,710 a year ($15.24 an hour) |
| Typical entry-level education | No formal credential |
| On-the-job training | Short-term |
| Jobs (2025) | About 5,143,000 |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | 5% growth, faster than average |
| Openings each year, on average | About 1,078,500 |
The BLS groups baristas with food and beverage serving workers. It says these workers take food and drink orders and prepare and serve items, and it lists communication skills, customer-service skills and physical stamina as important qualities. These are national figures for the whole group.
How to Earn More as a Barista
- Know your numbers. Use the pay grid to see what your hours are worth.
- Ask about the reward. Find out which store targets decide the quarterly payout.
- Build your record. Speed, accuracy and customer feedback support a raise or promotion.
- Aim for shift supervisor. Reported pay is higher, and the role is a step toward management.
- Use the benefits. Tuition coverage and savings tools add value beyond hourly pay.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting one number. Compare several sources and your local postings.
- Counting tips as guaranteed. Starbucks says tips are not guaranteed.
- Ignoring hours. Weekly hours decide both yearly pay and benefits.
- Forgetting taxes. All yearly figures here are before taxes.
- Skipping the questions. Ask about raises, rewards and tip sharing before you accept.
Job Offer Pay Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to accept when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Starbucks barista make in the USA?
Reported hourly pay is about $15 to $19 in the USA. Glassdoor lists $16 to $19, and ZipRecruiter reports an average of $15.23 as of September 2026. Full-time, that is roughly $31,000 to $39,500 a year before tips and bonuses.
Has Starbucks published its 2027 pay scale?
No. As of November 2, 2026, I found no official 2027 Starbucks pay scale. This page uses current pay and the changes Starbucks has announced instead of guessing a number.
How much is the Best of Starbucks Reward?
Starbucks says baristas and shift supervisors can earn up to an additional $1,200 a year ($300 per quarter), based on sales, operational and customer service targets. It started in July 2026.
Do Starbucks baristas get tips?
Yes, and customers can now tip by card through Mobile Order & Pay and Scan & Pay. Starbucks says tip amounts can vary substantially and are not guaranteed.
How often does Starbucks pay its partners?
Starbucks said all U.S. partners would move to weekly pay beginning in August 2026.
Which benefits start at 20 hours a week?
Starbucks says healthcare, Bean Stock, 100% upfront tuition coverage for a bachelor’s degree, 18 weeks of paid parental leave and mental health support are available at 20 hours a week or more.
Does Starbucks match 401(k) contributions?
Starbucks describes a retirement plan with a company match up to 5%. Its careers page does not give the eligibility hours or vesting rules, so ask HR for the details.
Where do baristas earn the most?
ZipRecruiter’s top cities were all in the $17.94 to $18.68 an hour range, led by Berkeley, CA. Pay in your own city can differ, so check local postings.
How much do shift supervisors and store managers earn?
Glassdoor reports $20 to $24 an hour for shift supervisors and $31 to $40 an hour for store managers. Treat these as reported ranges, not official pay scales.
How can I earn more as a barista?
Work the hours that qualify for benefits, ask how the reward and tips work at your store, build a record of strong results and apply for shift supervisor roles when they open.
Conclusion
A Starbucks barista in the USA typically earns about $15 to $19 an hour, with benefits starting at 20 hours a week and a possible reward of up to $1,200 a year. Use the grid to turn your hourly rate and hours into a yearly figure, and check local postings for your city.
Related Reading
- Starbucks barista interview questions and answers
- Starbucks barista job description and skills for resume
- Starbucks barista resume sample
- Starbucks barista cover letter sample
Sources: Starbucks, Sharing in our success: new ways to reward hourly partners (April 2, 2026); Starbucks Careers, Financial Support; Glassdoor, Starbucks salaries; ZipRecruiter, Starbucks Barista salary; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (2025 pay; 2025 to 2035 outlook). Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter figures are user-reported and change often.