How much do baristas earn? Latest hospitality incomes revealed

Ever wondered how much a barista earns? The average taxable incomes of Australian baristas, café workers, and café or restaurant managers have been revealed in the latest figures from the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

AOT figures for the 2021-22 financial year show the average taxable income of Australian baristas was $30,465, and a café worker was $26,367, although the data does not stipulate whether they’re employed in a full time, part time, or casual capacity.

At management level in hospitality, a café or restaurant manager’s average taxable income was reportedly $54,449. The overall average taxable income for individual Australians was $72,327 (median $53,041).

According to the data, nearly three-quarters of Australia’s baristas are female (28,512 female and 10,222 male). Breaking down the profession by gender, female baristas had an average taxable income of $29,543 (median $28,057). Their male counterparts’ taxable income was $33,036 (median $30,810).

Of 54,831 café workers counted in the data, 43,186 were female; 11,645 were male. Female café workers earned $26,261 and males $26,760.

The ATO recorded 51,067 café or restaurant managers, of which 29,328 were female and 21,739 were male. The average taxable income of the former was $49,067 (median $44,911), and the latter was $61,709 (median $54,418).

Elsewhere in Australia’s hospitality sector, a bar attendant’s average taxable income was $35,770, nearly $10,000 more than a drinks waiter ($26,934).

Of the country’s 66,161 bar attendants recorded in the data, both genders were equally represented, with 33,626 females and 32,535 males counted in the profession. On average, a female bar attendant’s taxable income was $34,513, male $37,070.

The data showed drinks waiters are overwhelming female (102,585 compared to 35,562 men). Their average taxable income was $26,442 and $28,351 respectively.

The data did not include the average taxable income of a café owner.

The statistics for the 2021–22 income year were sourced from 2022 Individual income tax returns processed by 31 October 2023. The statistics are not necessarily complete.