Starbucks is the #2 best company to work for (in the large company category)

That's according to Fortune magazine. (Wegmans, a grocery chain, is #1.) In its January 24 issue, Fortune says: "The coffee behemoth is justly famous for its generous benefits. One example: Part-timers and their same-or opposite-sex partners receive comprehensive health coverage. Hypnotherapy? Covered. Naturopathy? Ditto." The magazine says AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY for salaried employees is $44,790; for hourly employees, it's $35,294. Starbucks ranks #11 on the best-places list when small and medium companies are included in the list.

Comments

[Someone]

Does anyone know if pay rates differ from city to city. Like a district manager may get paid more in New York than in Texas because of the cost of living? Anyone know how much a District manager makes?

[YEs I know]

Acutally pay rates differ from region to region, not city to city, and assistant manager make about 27k -31k without bonuses, bonuses are quarterly and are up to 10% of your base pay - Manager actually make 34k-38k and the bonus thing applys to them also, now district managers make 41-44k and they too get a bonus plan based off of their projected sales and loss of employees and all that kind of stuff -

Not forgetting to mention that every year all partners get a bonus based on their performance - so YES baristas do make some bank working for starbucks but at the same point employee retention is an issue - a barista that has been with the company for 5 years will actaully make a little bit more money than an assistant manager-

[topher]

Actually, I don't know how a barista working for 5 years could ever make a little bit more than assistant managers. Considering the average assistant manager makes 27K, not including bonuses, to even meet that, a barista would have to have a pay rate of 14 dollars an hour, and would have to work 40 hours every week. The pay rate cap on Shift Supervisors is around 11.50 an hour depending on what region you work in, and to reach that usually takes 7 years or more. The cap for Baristas is much lower. Granted, once you reach this cap, you are entitled to a share of the store's quarterly bonuses, but you have to recieve a PERFECT score on your review every time in order to get that bonus. Partner retention does award you valuable raises, and with tips included your pay is appropriate for the job you do, but even Shift Supervisors could not even dream of making as much or more than an ASM. And having worked for Starbucks for almost 9 years, yes I know.

IN response to Yes I know No you don't. I am sitting here looking at the payscale for ASM, SM, and DM.

ASM 21,500-38,000 depending on region
SM 27,000-57,000 depending on region and store
DM 48,000-92,000 depending on region

[Barista to the Stars]

From the perspective of someone who has worked in many different situations and has worked for *$ for almost two years, I would this:

*$ is a great company for someone who wants to work part time and who needs benefits. There is no other company around (believe me, I researched it) who offers the awesome benefit package that is available after 90 days. The hourly wage sucks ($6 - 7/hour) for what's expected of you. Tips help but you can't count on that. Don't let anyone fool you with stories of 30K, Fortune magazine notwithstanding, baristas do not make that kind of $$$$$$$.

Be careful of working for *$ full time with aspirations of being anything beyond what you were hired for. How far you go and how fast TOTALLY depends on your store manager. I've read the stories about people moving into management fast, that's great, but at my store, we've lost three awesome shifts because the store manager didn't help them grow into ASMs, which is what they wanted.

And, call me crazy, but 30K for what is expected of store managers is insane. I'm pretty close with my SM and I've seen what she endures. She works 60 - 80 hours a week, if needed, and never seems to get that time back when it's slow.

*$ is not easy to work at -- the hours can be long, you are on your feet, people are rude and demanding.......and store managers have to be upbeat and set the pace, even when they are tired and frazzled like the baristas.

My advice: just think about it.

OH -- and one last thing: to those who insist on spreading the myth that *$ encourages SM to cut hours so people don't get benefits: that's utter crap. My SM bends over BACKWARDS to make sure that I have enough hours. I'm a full time student and she lets me pretty much tell her when I'm available and then she works me during off periods at school to get me hours. No matter what you say, *$ is an overly generous company to it's part timers and to the communities in which it resides. I've seen it firsthand and I've read about the contributions *$ makes to the communties it buys coffee from. *$ may be a corporate giant, but its principles are solid and generous.

Barista to the Stars

[Susanna K. Hutcheson]

While I may have posted to this forum in the past, the posts above were not written by me. Someone is obviously using my name for some reason that escapes me. You need to verify the posters. At any rate, for the record, I like Starbucks coffee and the people who work for Starbucks. They treat everyone like royalty.

[curious Georgia]

HI,

I appreciate all the employee benefit info, but can anyone who is a current employee or former employee, me tell me if Starbucks will cover speech therapy for an hourly employee's family member?

Is there a limit to the # of visits per year?

If there is an 800 number to call for that kind of info, I would be happy to get that info too.
thanks very much--

[BaristaBoy]

I am completely over this "just say yes" policy. I have had it with bending over backwards to make yuppie assholes happy when they can't be bothered to tear themselves away from their cell phones long enough to take their cappuccinos out of my hand.

[Tina Turner]

If Starbucks pays so well, lets all get a job there...I'm going right now to put in an application!

Do assistant store managers work full or part time? How many hours?

[-m]

Asst Managers are full-time salaried employees. They are required to work at least 40 hours a week, and are eligable for overtime if they exceed 40 hours.

Starting in fiscal year '06, in-store hourly and salaried partners starting wages are expected to go up a bit.

FY 06 has already started. Oct 3rd. No wage increase. Managers got raises but that was review time

[-m]

Excuse me, that was a typo. Fiscal '07. The whole thing may not happen. Think they'll give another xmas "thank you bonus" this year?

Nope.

And FY 07 is not a sure thing either I bet

Never such thing as a sure thing. I'd be willing to bet that they give a bonus this year though.

Just because they gave one for the first time in 34 years I doubt they'll do it again.

[MGR]

Hourly wages vary by market, as do their increases. They aren't all increased at the same time.

They conduct surveys of the benefits and base pay of similar businesses in the field. Then they compare that to the current Starbucks wage plus benefits. They so rarely raise hourly wages because once you add in the relatively cheap health benefits, 401k, and stock option grants, your "Total Pay," as Starbucks calls it, blows the competition away.

That being said, "similar businesses" tend to include other coffee shops, fast food, and lower-end retail-- those who are competing against us for employees-- so the hourly wage doesn't need to be sky-high.

An assistant manager at a mid-volume GAP makes more than a level 1 sbux store manager. You just have to decide if it's for you. Personally, I'd claw my eyes out if I had to discuss "Jeans or Khakis" all day.

Thus, if you are hired "externally" (such as from GAP) you get paid more than an internal hire. Depending on the market though, it can take months and tons of interviews to get in.

thx.

[topher]

Thanks for all the info! I was wondering if anyone knows if you can negotiate your wage after you have been offered a job? What is the payscale like in the Southwest region for ASM.

[topher]

Just wanted to comment on the promotion thing. In past comments I said that promotions are not right from a DM standpoint. I was upset about losing my DM along with the work I had done to get promoted, and compounded with my experience at my previous store, I became irritated with the process. I was wrong about my DM. He wanted me to prove myself to him and I felt angry about that, as I had already proved myself to someone else, but these things happen, and overall, I think that we promote fairly within starbucks. My apologies about my emotional comment from August. Thanks.

[-m]

Topher,
When I started out as an ASM a little over two years ago they started me at 30,600. That is above average for a starting ASM salary. They gave me more because I have a degree (a useless degree in english is still a degree) and because I came from a corporate environment (in other words, they want me to work in the regional office). My current ASM makes 29,450. From what I have seen, most ASMs start off at around 26,000 in my area (Los Angeles).
You can try to negotiate a higher pay, but they will rarely budge. Your first raise can be a pretty good one if you work hard and impress your DM.
Good luck.

[topher]

Thanks so much -M! Your advice really helped, and gave much needed encouragment. Thanks again.

[Lilly]

Do Starbucks ever hire older women? I would love to work there but I am in my 50s. I look younger and am of normal weight.

[topher]

Oh my goodness Lilly, of course. Starbucks is very good at not discriminating against people looking for employment. If you have the desire and the drive, you can certainly get hired. Just type in your address to the starbucks store finder on the website, pick your top ten stores that you want to work at, and call them each first to see who is hiring. Then go to each store that is hiring personally and apply. Call back one week later to speak with the manager and ask to set up an interview. Also, you can even apply online to stores if you like!

[jjcoffee]

im looking for a job right now and it seems like starbucks had been looking for shift supervisors and baristas for a long time now, in my area at least (i live in new jersey bergen county area)cuz everytime i go to hotjobs.com, i always come across starbucks looking for supervisors and baristas.....

what i wanna know is how much do supervisors get in an hourly basis?
Im kinda interested in applying

[Kern]

pay is $9.75 for baristas in MA, includes tips.

[Jeff]

To be realistic about that yearly salary for an hourly employee...Im sure that number is based on the very high end of some one that works alomst full time and includes tips.
Some of the people complaing about this are the same type of people that have a limited availbilty and wonder why your not maxed out on hours.

[Gabriel]

Does anyone out there know the current salary guidelines for a Store manager in the Minneapolis area? I have over 10 years retail management, food service and Coffee experience as wll as a college degree and have been thinking about applying if the money is right.

[Tom]

With your experience and all, I'd think it has to be in the $40-43 range. . I'd think someone else is out here who could help Gabriel more definitively. Goodluck!

[Cee]

I just got a job at Starbucks. I start on like Friday. I will just be working fridays, saturdays and sundays. I am wondring, what do you think I will be making?

its all about TOTAL PAY look for the brochure in your back room

[colleen]

Total pay is hard to understand if your a teen or have never recived benifits from your work before. It all depends on your hourly wage, location, how busy the store is (tips), and the number of hours you work. Bust out a calculator and do it yourself. Remember to take out tax and cup fund :-)

[J]

Lilly -

I'm a 51 year-old female and just got hired as an ASM. I have a business degree, but no food service experience. I say "go for it."

Just curious - what does being of "average weight" have to do with it?

[Jefferson]

Starbucks isn't an awful place to work... I say that with 4 months of Barista experience. The atmosphere's pretty positive (of course, depending on who you're working alongside and the time of day).

However, I've noticed how the company pinches pennies.... and it sort of bothers me. My Manager walks around bragging about how the company is opening 5 new stores a day and how successful everything is.... and then he'll mention something shitty about avoiding the use of selophane wrap because it's pricey for the company, and how he's going to (half assedly) spend more time on the floor to save the store labor hours.

You know what that says to me? It says "We want to save every penny we can, because the less we pay our Baristas, the quicker we can open more stores and jack up the price of our stock."

I'm not trying to say that Barista's should be paid $10 or something ridiculous like that. The job is completely simple (if you have basic people skills), and the $8 range is more than appropriate for base pay.

But... is this encouraged? Basically, he's cutting hours and screwing over everyone on the floor. The schedule says that he's there, but really he's in the back writing e-mails to the District and pretending that he's important. Meanwhile, I'm stressed like a maniac on the floor, because I'm almost out of brewed darkroast and there's a line of 9 people. And should a snapshot come through during such a time... my face is attached to it, and I look and feel like a shithead.

No, it's not a crime or anything... but it really makes me roll my eyes when I think about it.

But unfortunately for me, I'm at the mercy. Should my true career plans fail, I know that I can feed myself and afford to pay my student loans with Shift pay, and possibly even move up higher in the company.

[Opening a new store.]

I just got hired by Starbucks to help open their new store in Saskatoon. Amazing company treats everyone like gold. My training has been nothing short of the best i've received in any job. The enviroment is fantastic and I can't help but smile all the time.

I was in a depresion before I was hired one week after being hired and I come home smiling all the time.

If your a colledge/high school student this is a FANTASTIC place to work. Fair warning though the youngest person working in my store is 22.

Wages are very competetive compared to most jobs in this feild (Wages at any other restuarnt in this area are 7.05 at the moment I started at 7.75) I easily get my 20 hours a week and they are always asking if I would like to pick up more.

I really can't say enough. :)

p.s. For those who doubt it Starbucks does give back to the community bigtime. Look up their make your mark program if you doubt me. :) As well our store when it opens as I understand will be having a benefit day with the childrens hospital charity.

p.s I have to say it one last time. I love working for starbucks.

[einstein girl]

At Einsteins ASST. MGRS. are hourly. My asst. mgr. makes 15.20 an hour and gets 54 hours a week, that's 44.5k a year easily.

oh yeah, excluding the $40.00 tips she gets every two weeks (we're not a very busy store)...another $1000.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Somebody has been smoking the wacky weed a little too much. People are just deluding themselves with caffeine again. Stop it now!

einstein doesn't pay that much for ASM's. I know I worked with einstein as a Store Manager.

[einstein girl]

How long ago was that that you worked with Einstein's, though? I'm just the cashier and I started at 7 bucks and now I'm getting 8 after only 3 months. Another girl I know started at 7.50!

That's crazy. There's no way people making $8-9/hour + a bit from a tip jar are making more than $20,000 a year. And I doubt non-unionized factory workers are making much more than that, either.

I've been thinking about working there while I get through school, mostly for the benefits and job experience, thought the pay is barely better than my current job. I need some more job experience so I can go work at the bank and get paid $11/hour plus the same benefits for part-time.

[Shift Kevin]

I just wanted to comment on wages in New York

I am a shift supervisor (lowest mgt...one level above a barista)...I only work 24 hours a week (I am a full time student), but if I did work 40 hours a week, I would be making $28K per year, plus personal days, stock options, paid vacation, tuition, etc. Every hourly worker is reviewed twice per year with a maximum increase of 3.5% at each review.

As of right now the starting wage for a barista in New York City is $8.75 plus tips (a wide range from $1-$3/hour)

Assistant store managers are considered salary, and receive the same benefits as a barista or supervisor plus sick time, a bonus based on sales and a better health plan option. ASMs who are hired as ASMs make considerably more than an ASM who was promoted from a shift, I know of an ASM hired with a starting salary of $38K. Promoted ASMs make approximately $2/hour less. *ASMs are salaried but assigned an hourly wage as well to calculate any overtime pay*

Store Managers generally make high $40Ks PLUS. There are three tiers of SM determining the size of your store and your salary and promotion status. SM is high 40s plus in NYC because there are no tier one managers in NYC (Manhattan at least). I have heard of SM making up to $60K plus bonus.

District Managers have all the same benefits of SM plus some added perks. In NYC I have heard salaries of around $70K+ plus bonus.

A personal note: I would consider my self very liberal, very pro-union, but only in a place where it is needed. Myself personally, I feel I have been treated incredibly well at Starbucks. I have been with the company for 2.5 years and plan to be there through the entirety of my college edu, maybe longer.

[imabarrista]

Kevin,
Welcome to the real world. Can you imagine what Starbucks would be like if the UAW represented us?

[susie]

Hi there, was just wondering if somebody has some answers for me.
Anybody know how much an ASM or SM makes in Rochester (NY) area (Monroe County)? I know that an ASM makes about $35K in Westchester County (NY). Do you think it's a lot less than that since the cost of living is lower in Monroe County?

The numbers by Shift Kevin aren't right they are on the high side. For example ASM maxes out at 38000 in the highest market.

You can look them up on your starbucks portal.

ASM pay grade is 14
SM pay grade is either 17 or 18
DM pay grade is 23

[imabarrista]

Including bounuses?

bonus' aren't salary. And Shift Kevin said just salary

[Coffeehouseslave]

I own a coffee house in So. Cal. I worked there for many years before owning it and worked at Sbucks for a short while.
I found the experiences, pay, etc. to be pretty similar, from a barista's standpoint. The people I worked with and the customers were similar--some you loved, some you liked, some you wanted to kill. Something I've noticed universally, in my 20 years of customer service is, the situation is whatever you make of it. If you are an hourly barista, whether at an Sbucks or an independent, your situation is not going to dramatically change either way. I always liked the independents better because I liked wearing my own clothes, and having more in-put. I did have health insurance and went to trade shows with the owner.
As an owner, I have found that many people who leave my shop for Sbucks, end up realizing it isn't so much better. Not to bash on Sbucks, but the perception is that it is going to be soooo much better than working for an independent--better pay, better benenfits, better hours, better organization, etc. If you are looking for a career or 30K a year as a manager, you're going to want to try Sbucks, but if you are a student or looking for a potentially fun job, an independent may be for you. Besides, at most independents you can wear your own clothes and burn the bright green apron. You won't have to refer to yourself as a "partner" either (that was enough to make me want to leave).
Lately, in my area, it has been hard to find employees because people want to work at Sbucks because of the perception that it is going to be so much better. Many of the employees I've had have come from Sbucks, and a very few have left us to go work there. All of the ones that left us for Sbucks, didn't end up liking Sbucks. Most of the ones that left us for Sbucks were pretty crappy employees who thought that Sbucks would appreciate them more. Surprise, surprise--Sbucks doesn't want people with lousy attitudes, impossible schedules and the work ethic of Paris Hilton, either.
My point is that, for those of you looking for a job, and you have realistic expectations as an hourly barista, be open minded about working in an independent cafe. Sometimes they are awful, but often times they are comparable to Sbucks if not better. If you think it is a dead-end job, which it may be, be open to future possibilities--I've know several coffee house owners who have ended up with one of their baristas becoming their business partners (real partners, not the Sbucks variety), or owning it outright. That is what happened to me and now I am working with one of my baristas to become my partner and eventually take over the business.

[Cinnamon]

Hi,
What are the different SM tiers for pay scale purposes. What does each tier entail? How much is the average SM pay for Los Angeles?
Thanks

[3 Year Employee]

I have been with Starbucks for 3 years, started when I was 18, and am now moving onto an ASM position, I feel like I have put my all into *$ and that what I put in is what I'm getting out. I worked my ass off and I think that my SM and DM appreciate that. I have seen unfair things happen in the work scene, but I realized that sometimes, you just gotta accept the facts, we usually don't know what the whole story is. I look forward to going to work, it makes me feel good to give it my all.

Most of you made good comments, I'm a ASM in Chicago market just hired from the outside. They offered me 38k plus bonus to start.
For those that have retail, restaurant experience you will get paid for what you are worth. *$ is a good company to work for no matter what anyone tells you. Your experience there will be what you make out of it. You want to be a crapy employee and you will be treated as crap when it comes to review, promotion, or pay increase. If you show that you care about your job then the limit is the sky