Starbucks employs roughly 45,040 people in its corporate, technology, and support organizations in addition to its extensive retail staff. Recent staffing data shows 868 hires balanced against 2,350 departures, suggesting a measured recalibration of resources while the company continues to scale. Nearly half of all roles sit in business-oriented functions that guide brand strategy, supply-chain oversight, and field support, highlighting the operational backbone required to run thousands of stores worldwide.
Business Management is the largest department with 19,737 employees, or about 44 % of total headcount, underscoring the emphasis Starbucks places on strategic planning and store enablement. Operations (8,816) and Sales & Support (8,023) together account for roughly 37 %, reflecting the day-to-day execution and customer engagement central to the brand. Technical and creative capabilities are anchored by Marketing & Product (2,567) and Engineering (1,755), while Human Resources (1,458) and Finance & Administration (1,234) provide essential people and fiscal infrastructure. Smaller teams in Information Technology, Program & Project Management, and an “Other” category collectively contribute just over 1,400 positions, illustrating the range of specialized skills needed across the enterprise.
Seattle remains the company’s largest corporate hub with about 4,161 employees—slightly more than 9 % of total headcount—serving as a center for leadership and product development. New York (1,299), Los Angeles (1,137), and Chicago (885) each host sizeable regional teams that support marketing, supply-chain, and partnership work. Additional clusters in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, and Portland range from 200 to 600 employees apiece. The majority of personnel—nearly 80 %—operate from other U.S. locations, highlighting Starbucks’ approach of situating talent close to key markets while maintaining a strong presence at headquarters for core strategic functions.