Jobs Similar to Baristas
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to baristas, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Butchers and Meat Cutters, Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers and Cooks (Fast Food).
Baristas: $31,200 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Baristas) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | 78% | $40,140 | High school |
| 2 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 78% | $33,980 | High school |
| 3 | Cooks, Fast Food | 77% | $30,890 | High school |
| 4 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersSame group | 76% | $31,200 | High school |
| 5 | Waiters and WaitressesSame group | 76% | $35,230 | High school |
| 6 | Food Servers, NonrestaurantSame group | 75% | $35,360 | High school |
| 7 | BartendersSame group | 75% | $34,340 | High school |
| 8 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 74% | $35,510 | High school |
| 9 | Food Preparation Workers | 73% | $35,320 | High school |
| 10 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 73% | $31,200 | High school |
| 11 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 72% | $32,910 | High school |
| 12 | Shampooers | 72% | $32,600 | High school |
| 13 | Parking Attendants | 71% | $35,150 | High school |
| 14 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 71% | $37,330 | High school |
| 15 | Baggage Porters and Bellhops | 71% | $37,080 | High school |
| 16 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 71% | $32,150 | High school |
| 17 | Cooks, Short Order | 71% | $35,880 | High school |
| 18 | Cooks, Restaurant | 70% | $37,390 | High school |
| 19 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 70% | $37,450 | High school |
| 20 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 70% | $36,300 | High school |
- 1Butchers and Meat Cutters
78% similar · $40,140 · High school
- 2Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
78% similar · $33,980 · High school
- 3Cooks, Fast Food
77% similar · $30,890 · High school
- 4Fast Food and Counter Workers
76% similar · $31,200 · High school · Same group
- 5Waiters and Waitresses
76% similar · $35,230 · High school · Same group
- 6Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
75% similar · $35,360 · High school · Same group
- 7Bartenders
75% similar · $34,340 · High school · Same group
- 8Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
74% similar · $35,510 · High school
- 9Food Preparation Workers
73% similar · $35,320 · High school
- 10Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
73% similar · $31,200 · High school
- 11Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
72% similar · $32,910 · High school
- 12Shampooers
72% similar · $32,600 · High school
- 13Parking Attendants
71% similar · $35,150 · High school
- 14Stockers and Order Fillers
71% similar · $37,330 · High school
- 15Baggage Porters and Bellhops
71% similar · $37,080 · High school
- 16Amusement and Recreation Attendants
71% similar · $32,150 · High school
- 17Cooks, Short Order
71% similar · $35,880 · High school
- 18Cooks, Restaurant
70% similar · $37,390 · High school
- 19Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
70% similar · $37,450 · High school
- 20Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
70% similar · $36,300 · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for baristas also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where baristas is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (85)
- Cooks, Fast Food (84)
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop (80)
- Food Preparation Workers (79)
- Cooks, Short Order (73)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (72)
- Shampooers (72)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters (70)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (70)
- Cooks, Restaurant (70)
Questions about jobs like baristas
What jobs are most similar to baristas?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Butchers and Meat Cutters (78% similar), Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers (78% similar), Cooks (Fast Food) (77% similar), Fast Food and Counter Workers (76% similar) and Waiters and Waitresses (76% similar).
Do jobs like baristas pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than baristas where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.