The Average Salary of a Starbucks Sales Person

A Starbuck's sales person is near the bottom of the corporate ladder.

Starbucks has coffee shops throughout the world. It employs thousands of clerks, called "baristas," to serve coffee and snacks to patrons. Because of the large labor force that is qualified to do this relatively unskilled task, the pay of a barista is not terribly high.

Average Salary

The average age of a Starbucks employee is 26, according to the McGraw Hill website. Like workers in nearly any other fast food or coffee outlet, their pay hovers around minimum wage, with some experienced baristas making more. The pay rate, which ranges from $6 to $13 an hour, is increased by tips.

Benefits

The company provides employees with numerous benefits, including health insurance options, a retirement plan, stock options and paid vacations, according to the Starbucks website. Starbucks also gives its baristas a pound of free coffee per week.

Duties

Starbucks sales people are responsible for all the front line duties of a busy retail cafe. The primary job of a Starbucks barista is serving customers coffee. This involves making the drinks, taking the pay for the drinks, operating the cash register and providing customers with any other information or help they may need. Other duties include maintenance, cleaning, restocking of coffee machines and other equipment, opening the cafe in the morning, and closing at night.

Advantages

Many Starbucks employees appreciate the relationships that they build with their co-workers and some repeat customers. Starbucks sales jobs tend to be fast paced with little down time. And workers have the opportunity to learn a lot about coffee and about customer service.

Drawbacks

First shift workers often have to get up early to open the store. When things get busy, the job can be high stress, and some customers can be rude and impatient. Compared to many other careers, working as a sales person at Starbucks does not pay well. Although it is a good job for many people, it would be difficult to qualify for a mortgage or raise a family on the income.

References

• United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2009: 35-3022 Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop
• Glass Door: Starbuck's Barista Hourly Pay
• Starbucks Coffee: Working at Starbucks
• McGraw Hill Higher Education: Starbucks Corporation