How Much Money Do Starbucks Baristas Really Make?

Have you ever been told that, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life? If this thought has crossed your caffeine-obsessed mind in the past, maybe you've considered turning your passion for coffee into your career. And where else to flex your barista muscles than Starbucks, the largest coffee chain in the world (via Insider)? But, passion only takes you so far, and pay is an undeniably important factor when considering where you're going to clock in every day.

If you've ever considered working for the coffee giant, or if you're just curious what it's like on the other side of the counter, you may have wondered how much baristas get paid to craft your caramel macchiatos and provide an excellent experience. If so, we've got all the details on this line of work, including the range of in-store jobs at Starbucks, how much each one pays, and all the other benefits to working for the company.

Before diving into how much you can earn as a Starbucks barista, let's look at the different roles at the store first — because not every person with a green apron on is doing the same job. According to the Starbucks career page on the official website, there are four main positions available inside any one of their retail locations.

You could be a barista, the most entry-level position, where you'll be empowered to "personally connect and create moments that make a difference and work together to create a welcoming store environment." If you're looking to develop your managerial skills, consider the shift supervisor roles. As Starbucks explains it, people in this role "run shifts, lead the store team, and make decisions that impact store operations."

Climbing a little higher up the ladder, the company also offers assistant store manager positions — as the title implies, these employees are the second-in-command. "The role provides the opportunity to manage store operations, drive business results, lead a team, and develop talent," as the careers page explains. And lastly, there's the manager, the one responsible for the entire store and every customer and employee in it. "Store Managers run their store as if it belongs to them," the chain says on the website.

Like many companies, the roles at Starbucks increase in compensation with more senior titles. Traditionally, baristas would get paid the least and the store manager would get paid the most, with the shift leads and assistant store managers falling somewhere in between the two.

Though pay can depend on the store's location, and any pay requirements for that area including cost of living or minimum wages, the national average for baristas at Starbucks is $12.32 per hour according to Indeed, a worldwide employment website. The website also shares data showing shift supervisors make about $14.58 per hour, assistant store managers make approximately $37,551 per year, and managers earn $54,758 per year, on average.

In addition to the company-provided compensation, many stores also accept tips, so Starbucks employees may be able to earn a little extra on top of their wage in weekly cash payouts. Though the amount of additional compensation could vary, one shift supervisor shared their experience on Indeed's site, saying, "Working 35-40 hours a week, I would make between $20-30. I've met people who make far more at different stores, and people who've made far less." Only hourly employees split tips, making the assistant store manager and store manager ineligible to receive this additional compensation.

In addition to monetary compensation, Starbucks also offers extra benefits to their employees as well. The coffee chain offers both full-time and part-time employees with health coverage (medical, dental, and vision). In order to be eligible for benefits as an hourly employee, you have to work an average of 240 hours across a 3-month period (via Starbucks), which works out to about 20 hours a week.

Employees are also offered stock and investing benefits, including a 401K plan. Other benefits, according to the Starbucks website, include paid time off, parental leave, tuition coverage, commuter benefits, and a fund for assistance during a financial crisis.

If you work at the coffee chain, you'll also get to take advantage of free drinks while working, discounts while not working, a free pound of coffee or box of tea a week, a Spotify premium subscription, and a gift matching program, among other perks, says the company. 

According to Indeed's data, Starbucks' overall benefits and compensation is ranked at 3.9 stars out of a possible 5. "Amazing benefits, FULL college tuition, health insurance, dental insurance, and we all get a share in the stocks," one former employee shared on Indeed of their experience working for the company.