Starbucks Shift Hours: Everything You Need to Know About

Among all Starbucks benefits, the most popular one is undoubtedly the liberty of choosing shift hours. Unlike most jobs, Starbucks allows its retail employees to work by shifts. This perk proves extremely helpful for teenagers working during the summer. And college students who manage their studies along with work. At Starbucks, employees can either work full-time or part-time. Under the part-time category, employees can choose between morning, midday, and evening shifts. 

However, not much information is available about how Starbucks shift hours work. Thus, I have curated this guide, which describes how shift hours are regulated at Starbucks. 

Starbucks is one of the biggest corporations in the world. It has about 35,711 franchises worldwide, of which 15,000 are solely in the US.

Starbucks opens very early in the morning and closes late. In some locations, Starbucks even provides 24/7 services. 

Thus, it is evident that Starbucks employees must work in shifts to manage such a hefty routine. Moreover, most people working in Starbucks’s retail section are teenagers and students. 

The teenagers mostly work during the summers. While students above 18 are regular employees at Starbucks, managing their work and education simultaneously. 

Similarly, many employees are solely dedicated to their Starbucks job. Therefore, Starbucks has introduced full-time and part-time shift hours to manage such a diverse range of employees. 

People enrolled in Starbucks’ full-time shifts must work 30 to 40 hours a week. Their working threshold for each day is a maximum of 8 hours. 

Part-time shifts are also available at Starbucks. People who sign up for this plan must work at least 22 to 25 hours a week. Similar to the previous one, full-time employees can only work for a maximum of 8 hours a day. 

Generally, Starbucks shift hours are about 4 to 8 hours long. The shift hours usually vary depending upon the operating hours of the store. 

For instance, the shifts can be longer if the store is in a populous area with early opening hours and late closing times. In an otherwise situation, the shift hours will become shorter. 

However, the minimum threshold for each day is three hours. It means that no matter what, one has to work at least three hours a day as a Starbucks part-time or full-time employee. 

Full-time employees are given a 30-minute unpaid break. They are also allowed two 10-minute time-offs in between shifts. While part-time employees are only allowed a 10-minute unpaid break. 

Furthermore, Starbucks employees must report 30 minutes before the shift starts. Similarly, the closing shift employees must stay 30 minutes after their shift to check and prepare the inventory. 

The above-mentioned timeline is a general depiction of Starbucks shift hours. But they are finalized by the Store Manager or Shift Supervisor.

Depending upon the busy routine of the week or the number of customers, the Manager has the authority to change the shift hours. The Manager’s final call will apply to both full-time and part-time employees. 

Starbucks is not a 9 to 5 workplace like corporations. Instead, it opens early in the morning when truck drivers turn in. And it closes late at night when people head home after work or a party. 

Thus, Starbucks has divided its working hours into three shifts, i.e., morning, midday, and evening. Depending upon the store’s operating hours, these shifts are about 4 to 8 hours long. 

Let’s scrutinize each shift so that you can determine which one is the most suitable for you. 

1. Morning Shifts 

The earliest shift in Starbucks is in the morning. Employees are required to report 30 minutes before the store opens. Thus, if the store opens at 5:00 a.m., employees must report by 4:30 a.m. 

But in some places, Starbucks opens at 8:00 a.m., so the opening shift employees can come by 7:30 a.m. The morning shift usually goes up from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

Full-time workers can work five to eight hours on this shift. Whereas the part-time baristas are only required to work three to four hours. During the shift, employees get their respective breaks and time-offs.  

2. Midday Shifts 

The Midday Shift is probably the busiest part of the day at Starbucks. It is when loads of customers are coming to Starbucks. Thus, the employees must stay vigilant during this shift. 

Owing to the requirements, the Manager usually appoints well-trained and experienced employees during this shift. The midday shift starts at 9:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

The timings of the midday shift depend upon the location of the store. The store may even have two midday shifts if the franchise is very big. 

3. Evening Shifts

The last shift at Starbucks is in the evening. This shift remains as busy as the midday one. It usually starts at 3 p.m. And depending upon the store’s closing timings, the shift may go as long as 11 p.m. 

In some locations, Starbucks provides late-night and even 24/7 services. Thus, in such situations, the evening shifts are prolonged. They may even get transformed into night shifts. 

Moreover, employees during the evening shifts must leave the restaurant thirty minutes after the closing time. They have to check inventory and prepare the store for the opening shift staff. 

Day	Shift in the Morning	Shift in the Afternoon	Shift in the Evening
Saturday	7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sunday	7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.	1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Monday	6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Tuesday	6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.	6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Wednesday	6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Thursday	6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.	6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Friday	6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Each Starbucks franchise has a shift supervisor. The person in this post regulates and manages shift timings at the store. 

The Shift Supervisor will decide the working hours for the morning, midday, and evening shifts. He is also in charge of supervising the break timings for employees. 

Moreover, if the store timings change, the Supervisor will be liable to allocate new shift hours. Employees who want to alter shift timings must inform and coordinate with the Shift Supervisor. 

For the Shift Supervisor post, one must have at least one year of experience in a similar field. Usually, Starbucks hires Shift Supervisors from within the company. 

Therefore, to become a shift supervisor at Starbucks, you should start as a cashier or a barista at one of its outlets.  

Starbucks is one of the few companies that allow flexible working. Employees can easily choose from part-time and full-time shifts. 

During part-time shifts, employees only have to work for 25 hours a week. But when it comes to full-time shifts, Partners must work 30 to 40 hours weekly. 

The employees have to fulfill this weekly threshold. Now it depends on them how they want to do it. But it is important to consider that they must work a minimum of three hours every day. 

Apart from these, there are no significant work obligations at Starbucks. The employees can choose their timings and the shift they want to work at. 

Similarly, they have the liberty to change their shift at any time. Employees should contact their Shift Supervisor if they want to work at flexible hours. Usually, the flexible hour shifts are easily allocated. 

However, if there is a shortage of employees at the store or it is busier than usual, working at flexible hours becomes difficult. In such a situation, the Shift Supervisor may want you to work full shifts. 

Read a detailed guide on Starbucks Partner Hours!

Sometimes, it might be difficult to locate your Starbucks outlet. It usually happens when you travel from a far place, or it is your first day at work. 

To solve this problem, Starbucks has introduced a “Store Locator” tool. This application helps employees and customers to locate a particular Starbucks store. 

Refer to the below method if you are confused about this tool’s usage. 

• Open “Starbucks Store Locator.”
• Type the store’s “City” and “ZIP Code.”
• Press “Filter” to get results.
• Your desired Starbucks store will pop up on the screen. 

Starbucks pays its employees on an hourly basis. As of 2023, the baristas are employed at a $17/hr rate. In comparison, cooks and dishwashers are paid $11 per hour. 

The pay rate at Starbucks can vary from place to place, depending upon the store’s popularity. And if one gets lucky, employees may also receive bonuses from the manager and tips from customers. 

Starbucks pays their employees weekly. At the end of the week, the employee’s shift hours are calculated, and they are paid accordingly. 

Starbucks shift hours are very flexible compared to other coffeehouses. The leniency and convenience offered by the company for its employees is the reason behind their best customer service. 

Owing to the company’s flexible hours policy, almost anyone can work at Starbucks. Part-time and full-time shifts are available at the company. 

It means that Starbucks is perfect for both those seeking a full-time job and those wanting a side income. Even if you are a student, you can work three to four hours daily and get handsome pocket money. 

1. What is the shortest shift at Starbucks?

The shortest shift at Starbucks is three hours. All the employees, whether part-time or full-time, must work at least three hours daily. However, during busy weeks, employees must work a minimum of 4 to 5 hours. The work hours are stretched occasionally, like on Christmas or Thanksgiving. 

2. Can I work 2 days a week at Starbucks?

Starbucks has a policy where employees must work at least one day a week on flexible hours shifts. Thus, if you can only work 2 days a week, Starbucks is a perfect place. However, within these two days, you must work at least 12 hours, as it is a weekly threshold. 

3. Is Starbucks a good job for a college student?

Yes, college students can easily become a Starbucks Partner. The pay rate might be average, but the Starbucks benefits are worth it.