CDCareer Decision

Baristas Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Baristas in Santa Cruz, CA have a median annual salary of $43,400, with 3,220 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $35,120 at the 10th percentile to $46,930 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$43,400

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$20.87

Employment

3,220

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$35,120
10th
$36,530
25th
$43,400
Median
$44,880
75th
$46,930
90th

Local compared with national

Santa Cruz, CA

$43,400

Median annual · 2025

United States

$31,200

Median annual · 2025

The Santa Cruz, CA median is 39.1% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $12,200).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.4
  2. 2.Service OrientationImportance 3.4
  3. 3.SpeakingImportance 3.3
  4. 4.MonitoringImportance 3.0
  5. 5.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.0
  6. 6.CoordinationImportance 3.0
  7. 7.Reading ComprehensionImportance 2.9
  8. 8.Critical ThinkingImportance 2.6
  9. 9.Operation and ControlImportance 2.6
  10. 10.WritingImportance 2.5
  11. 11.Active LearningImportance 2.5
  12. 12.PersuasionImportance 2.5

Career information

Education and experience

Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word

Common tasks

  • Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
  • Receive and process customer payments.
  • Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
  • Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
  • Clean service or seating areas.
  • Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
  • Wrap, label, or date food items for sale.
  • Check temperatures of freezers, refrigerators, or heating equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Take out garbage.
  • Describe menu items to customers, or suggest products that might appeal to them.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Baristas salary in other locations

Other occupations in Santa Cruz, CA