- Starbucks is on the lookout for an airplane captain, and it’s prepared to pay upwards of $360,000 yearly for the best individual. Splendid candidates have “tact and decorum,” with a customer support aptitude that meshes effectively with the high-level executives flying for enterprise. However being personable is only one piece of the equation—candidates want 5,000 hours of expertise, a bachelor’s diploma, and lots of certificates to make the lower.
Starbucks is trying to fill a brand new function, however it appears to be like far completely different from churning out lattes and breakfast wraps for hours on finish. The espresso big is now hiring a captain to fly its airplane—and pays a wage as excessive as $360,000 for the best expertise.
Lots of the duties are easy: managing the flight and crew of the assigned plane, directing preflight planning, and evaluating threat elements to make sure the most secure touring doable.
However the function isn’t for any flying novice; there are strict hurdles to even qualify, however it’s a shot at a job that pays 10 occasions as a lot as the standard barista gig and upwards of $160,000 greater than the common airline and business pilot wage of $198,000 per 12 months.
Candidates should come ready with a slew of certificates, and an “picture that positively displays the Starbucks Espresso Firm,” in addition to another uncommon necessities like “tact and decorum,” the job posting writes.
What it takes to land Starbucks’ new $360k job opening
The $111 billion espresso titan just isn’t solely on the lookout for a pilot with professionalism, who will likely be a “Starbucks ambassador each at house and overseas.” Being a great tradition match is one factor, however having all of the technical abilities is one other.
The job posting lists a protracted listing of most popular {qualifications}: a bachelor’s diploma, 5 years of expertise as a captain with a company flight division, and 5,000 hours of complete flight time. A high candidate can even have worldwide large-cabin enterprise jet expertise, robust problem-solving prowess, and organizational abilities.
Different necessities embody a legitimate Airline Transport Pilot Certificates, 1st Class Medical Certificates, legitimate passport, and FCC Restricted Radio Operator Certificates.
Customer support experience can be a should—the posting notes the place commonly offers with the best govt ranges at Starbucks. Word: CEO Brian Niccol could even catch a experience, particularly as he commutes from his house in Newport Seaside, California to Starbucks’ headquarters in Seattle, Washington. And sure, dealing with the passengers’ baggage can be a part of the job.
These job necessities are dizzying to many; it takes anyplace from 5 to eight years of expertise to fulfill the naked minimal of being a serious business airline pilot. Captains have to grasp completely different sorts of aircrafts, move written and oral exams, and work their approach as much as multi-engine planes. It’s additionally value noting that it’s not all the time essentially the most snug gig. With no comfortable workplace or distant set-up to retreat to, pilots are moved round on the whim of their job.
The way it stacks as much as the standard Starbucks function
Starbucks employs about 361,000 employees, with about 16,000 being in company. Lots of the different roles embody baristas, cashiers, warehouse employees, shift supervisors, and retailer managers. Incomes $360,000 a 12 months is out of the query for a lot of.
How a lot the common Starbucks barista brings house depends on the realm they dwell in; on higher-paying in states like New York it’s about $17 per hour, whereas in different places, pay would possibly skew in the direction of $15 hourly.
The U.S. nationwide common wage for a Starbucks barista is simply over $32,000 yearly, whereas larger earners within the function make about $37,500. That’s about ten occasions decrease than the potential wages of the pilots, and a far cry from the salaries of executives like Niccol who was granted round $96 million—largely in inventory awards—after 4 months of labor in 2024.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com