Bread and Pastry Baker Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Bread and pastry bakers may begin their education in high school by taking related vocational programs. Certain colleges offer degree programs in hospitality management. There are also professional culinary institutes and cooking schools that offer related degrees.
Training and Education
Employees normally have long-term on-the-job training before landing a job. Degrees are held by 8% of current bread and pastry bakers. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 22% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 70% of employees.
Job Overview
Bread and pastry bakers mix and bake ingredients to produce baked goods like pastries and bread. Bakers usually follow tried-and-tested recipes. More experienced bakers also create their own recipes.
Job Requirements
Training is extremely important to master the art of baking. Bread and pastry bakers usually begin their careers as trainees. They receive training in mechanical mixing and are taught about the ingredients and various products of a typical bakery. They are also trained in the art of icing and decorating baked goods. Trainees and apprentices are educated about government health regulations as well as the business of baking.
Certifications helps employers and customers recognize the skills of a baker. Certifications can be obtained from the Retail Bakers of America. The program has four levels and one needs to pass an examination to advance through each level.
Bread and pastry bakers should have a strong sense of aesthetics and taste and need to be able to develop an understanding of what kind of breads and pastries will be desired by consumers. Aspiring bread and pastry bakers should possess an eye for detail and be able to follow instructions.
Nature of Work
Bread and pastry bakers measure and mix the ingredients, knead dough and bake it. Those who produce large amounts of baked goods use mixing machines. They also use ovens and other equipment for high-volume preparations. Those making artisan bread or other specialty breads use ingredients like cheese, nuts, fruits and olives. Pastry bakers specialize in making different varieties of pastries, each with a unique style of icing.
The conditions of work depend upon the organization. Bread and pastry bakers generally work in hotels, cafeterias, cake shops, bakeries and supermarkets. Bakeries may often be noisy and hot places to work. Bread and pastry bakers need to meet deadlines of orders and also have to observe the unique timing requirements for baking different products. They may have to work at odd hours like in evenings or early mornings and sometimes have to work during holidays and weekends.
Area Job Conditions
You'll see a lot of bread and pastry bakers in Haverhill (Massachusetts), Michigan City (Indiana), and Carson City (Nevada), and comparatively fewer in Montgomery (Alabama), Columbia (South Carolina), and Corpus Christi (Texas).
Wages for Workers are highest in Auburn (Alabama), Stockton (California), and Sioux City (Iowa), and lowest in Longview (Texas), El Paso (Texas), and Monroe (Louisiana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time work suffices for 22% of bread and pastry bakers. Workers working on their own make up 4% of the total.
Career Videos
Bread and Pastry Bakers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 100 | +146% | |
| Birmingham | $21,000 | 320 | -38% |
| Decatur | $20,000 | 40 | -20% |
| Florence | $19,000 | 40 | -18% |
| Huntsville | $23,000 | 70 | -67% |
| Mobile | $21,000 | 150 | -16% |
| Montgomery | $19,000 | 80 | -52% |
| Tuscaloosa | $33,000 | 160 | +81% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $32,000 | 190 | +12% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $25,000 | 50 | -5% |
| Kingman | $24,000 | 50 | +15% |
| Phoenix | $26,000 | 2,330 | +24% |
| Prescott | $28,000 | 60 | +19% |
| Tucson | $27,000 | 290 | -19% |
| Yuma | $22,000 | 90 | +73% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $20,000 | 220 | +5% |
| Fort Smith | $19,000 | 130 | +6% |
| Little Rock | $21,000 | 110 | -70% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $27,000 | 240 | -11% |
| Chico | $31,000 | 60 | -10% |
| El Centro | $28,000 | 30 | -35% |
| Fresno | $33,000 | 270 | -19% |
| Los Angeles | $26,000 | 5,900 | +37% |
| Merced | $22,000 | 60 | +13% |
| Modesto | $24,000 | 220 | +40% |
| Napa | $27,000 | 70 | +18% |
| Oakland | $28,000 | 1,490 | +40% |
| Oxnard | $29,000 | 210 | -32% |
| Redding | $25,000 | 70 | +24% |
| Riverside | $27,000 | 1,170 | -9% |
| Sacramento | $29,000 | 670 | -27% |
| Salinas | $24,000 | 250 | +54% |
| San Diego | $25,000 | 1,320 | -5% |
| San Francisco | $32,000 | 1,430 | +35% |
| San Jose | $29,000 | 920 | -3% |
| San Luis Obispo | $28,000 | 100 | +10% |
| Santa Ana | $24,000 | 1,710 | +10% |
| Santa Barbara | $26,000 | 170 | 0% |
| Santa Cruz | $27,000 | 230 | +171% |
| Santa Rosa | $28,000 | 390 | +120% |
| Stockton | $34,000 | 200 | -7% |
| Vallejo | $30,000 | 90 | -25% |
| Visalia | $25,000 | 50 | -63% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $26,000 | 160 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs | $23,000 | 220 | -16% |
| Denver | $26,000 | 1,430 | +8% |
| Fort Collins | $23,000 | 120 | -5% |
| Grand Junction | $26,000 | 60 | +12% |
| Greeley | $25,000 | 90 | +29% |
| Pueblo | $26,000 | 50 | -6% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $31,000 | 360 | -20% |
| Danbury | $30,000 | 70 | +7% |
| Hartford | $33,000 | 350 | -42% |
| New Haven | $31,000 | 340 | +20% |
| Norwich | $25,000 | 140 | +14% |
| Waterbury | $27,000 | 100 | +54% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $26,000 | 50 | +4% |
| Wilmington | $27,000 | 160 | -53% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $30,000 | 1,680 | -35% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $25,000 | 320 | +61% |
| Deltona | $23,000 | 200 | +29% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $27,000 | 900 | +22% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $25,000 | 70 | -5% |
| Gainesville | $25,000 | 60 | -51% |
| Jacksonville | $21,000 | 1,100 | +73% |
| Lakeland | $20,000 | 300 | +55% |
| Miami | $25,000 | 1,080 | +4% |
| Naples | $28,000 | 140 | +26% |
| Ocala | $24,000 | 80 | -7% |
| Orlando | $23,000 | 870 | -19% |
| Palm Bay | $25,000 | 120 | -41% |
| Pensacola | $21,000 | 130 | -14% |
| Port St Lucie | $26,000 | 80 | -33% |
| Punta Gorda | $22,000 | 50 | +41% |
| Sarasota | $25,000 | 120 | -53% |
| Sebastian | $21,000 | 100 | +129% |
| Tallahassee | $20,000 | 130 | -21% |
| Tampa | $23,000 | 850 | -30% |
| West Palm Beach | $28,000 | 780 | +43% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $22,000 | 60 | -12% |
| Atlanta | $25,000 | 2,100 | -15% |
| Augusta | $24,000 | 200 | -5% |
| Brunswick | $25,000 | 40 | +7% |
| Gainesville | $20,000 | 150 | +125% |
| Macon | $19,000 | 120 | +35% |
| Valdosta | $20,000 | 50 | +9% |
| Warner Robins | $21,000 | 30 | -40% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $30,000 | 950 | +105% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $26,000 | 220 | -19% |
| Coeur Dalene | $26,000 | 110 | +134% |
| Idaho Falls | $23,000 | 50 | +16% |
| Pocatello | $19,000 | 90 | +239% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $21,000 | 90 | +34% |
| Champaign | $23,000 | 170 | +68% |
| Chicago | $26,000 | 5,040 | +25% |
| Danville | $19,000 | 80 | +237% |
| Kankakee | $21,000 | 30 | -20% |
| Peoria | $22,000 | 220 | +26% |
| Rockford | $21,000 | 70 | -51% |
| Springfield | $24,000 | 160 | +50% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $21,000 | 100 | +50% |
| Columbus | 60 | +75% | |
| Elkhart | $20,000 | 120 | +12% |
| Fort Wayne | $21,000 | 350 | +67% |
| Gary | $24,000 | 420 | +50% |
| Indianapolis | $23,000 | 550 | -42% |
| Lafayette | $21,000 | 60 | -18% |
| Michigan City | $25,000 | 50 | +34% |
| Muncie | $19,000 | 30 | -28% |
| South Bend | $25,000 | 80 | -38% |
| Terre Haute | $20,000 | 60 | -8% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $25,000 | 60 | +79% |
| Cedar Rapids | $23,000 | 110 | -22% |
| Davenport | $23,000 | 160 | -16% |
| Des Moines | $24,000 | 140 | -59% |
| Iowa City | $24,000 | 70 | +3% |
| Sioux City | 90 | +29% | |
| Waterloo | $23,000 | 50 | -40% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $19,000 | 60 | +51% |
| Wichita | $22,000 | 160 | -47% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $22,000 | 70 | -72% |
| Louisville | $20,000 | 330 | -49% |
| Owensboro | $25,000 | 50 | +14% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $26,000 | 80 | +31% |
| Baton Rouge | $24,000 | 310 | -21% |
| Houma | $19,000 | 210 | +125% |
| Lafayette | $21,000 | 170 | +18% |
| Lake Charles | $24,000 | 90 | +4% |
| New Orleans | $22,000 | 560 | +0% |
| Shreveport | $20,000 | 110 | -40% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $27,000 | 30 | -48% |
| Lewiston | $24,000 | 80 | +71% |
| Portland | $24,000 | 240 | +16% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $29,000 | 1,940 | +39% |
| Bethesda | $31,000 | 750 | +23% |
| Cumberland | $19,000 | 30 | -9% |
| Hagerstown | $22,000 | 110 | +15% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $30,000 | 40 | -59% |
| Boston | $31,000 | 2,480 | +34% |
| Brockton | $23,000 | 150 | +70% |
| Framingham | $33,000 | 100 | -40% |
| Haverhill | $23,000 | 260 | +226% |
| Lawrence | $26,000 | 150 | +166% |
| Lowell | $34,000 | 40 | -67% |
| New Bedford | $25,000 | 80 | +30% |
| Peabody | $29,000 | 180 | +79% |
| Pittsfield | $31,000 | 30 | +4% |
| Springfield | $27,000 | 260 | -16% |
| Worcester | $29,000 | 230 | -12% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $24,000 | 460 | +170% |
| Battle Creek | $23,000 | 30 | -38% |
| Detroit | $26,000 | 860 | +21% |
| Flint | $23,000 | 160 | +22% |
| Grand Rapids | $25,000 | 310 | -22% |
| Holland | $25,000 | 40 | -58% |
| Kalamazoo | $24,000 | 120 | -12% |
| Lansing | $30,000 | 130 | -36% |
| Muskegon | $20,000 | 120 | +128% |
| Saginaw | $22,000 | 110 | +38% |
| Warren | $26,000 | 960 | -16% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $28,000 | 1,470 | -23% |
| Rochester | $26,000 | 80 | -21% |
| St Cloud | $31,000 | 210 | +123% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $25,000 | 80 | -25% |
| Jackson | $22,000 | 190 | -28% |
| Pascagoula | $21,000 | 40 | -6% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $22,000 | 60 | -23% |
| Jefferson City | $22,000 | 60 | -16% |
| Joplin | $21,000 | 50 | -35% |
| Kansas City | $25,000 | 880 | -19% |
| Springfield | $20,000 | 170 | -13% |
| St Joseph | $22,000 | 90 | +90% |
| St Louis | $25,000 | 1,120 | -21% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $24,000 | 160 | +95% |
| Missoula | $25,000 | 50 | +2% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $25,000 | 110 | -33% |
| Omaha | $25,000 | 360 | -28% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | $22,000 | 40 | +77% |
| Las Vegas | $29,000 | 1,310 | +45% |
| Reno | $27,000 | 240 | +22% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $27,000 | 30 | -71% |
| Nashua | $28,000 | 70 | -49% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $28,000 | 170 | +16% |
| Camden | $28,000 | 270 | -51% |
| Edison | $33,000 | 900 | -18% |
| Newark | $25,000 | 860 | -19% |
| Ocean City | $26,000 | 50 | +33% |
| Trenton | $25,000 | 170 | -28% |
| Vineland | $32,000 | 50 | -12% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $24,000 | 350 | -14% |
| Farmington | $22,000 | 50 | +9% |
| Santa Fe | $25,000 | 100 | +70% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $26,000 | 590 | +24% |
| Binghamton | $24,000 | 110 | -2% |
| Buffalo | $25,000 | 630 | +8% |
| Glens Falls | $30,000 | 30 | -39% |
| Kingston | $27,000 | 70 | +22% |
| Nassau | $31,000 | 1,310 | -3% |
| New York | $27,000 | 5,650 | +2% |
| Poughkeepsie | $24,000 | 230 | -10% |
| Rochester | $28,000 | 560 | +5% |
| Syracuse | $22,000 | 300 | -8% |
| Utica | $24,000 | 290 | +132% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $21,000 | 310 | +71% |
| Burlington | $25,000 | 30 | -44% |
| Charlotte | $26,000 | 590 | -35% |
| Durham | $24,000 | 150 | -48% |
| Fayetteville | $20,000 | 70 | -45% |
| Goldsboro | $21,000 | 30 | -19% |
| Greensboro | $25,000 | 330 | -12% |
| Greenville | $19,000 | 30 | -54% |
| Hickory | $29,000 | 290 | +95% |
| Raleigh | $26,000 | 470 | -14% |
| Rocky Mount | $21,000 | 80 | +47% |
| Wilmington | $20,000 | 210 | +52% |
| Winston Salem | $20,000 | 290 | +33% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $21,000 | 50 | -20% |
| Fargo | $21,000 | 130 | +6% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $23,000 | 290 | -14% |
| Canton | $24,000 | 410 | +141% |
| Cincinnati | $26,000 | 890 | -18% |
| Cleveland | $26,000 | 1,060 | -3% |
| Columbus | $24,000 | 1,100 | +12% |
| Dayton | $25,000 | 210 | -48% |
| Lima | $27,000 | 90 | +85% |
| Mansfield | $20,000 | 30 | -38% |
| Steubenville | $20,000 | 70 | +85% |
| Toledo | $21,000 | 140 | -54% |
| Youngstown | $21,000 | 330 | +41% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $22,000 | 700 | +14% |
| Tulsa | $21,000 | 410 | -10% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $29,000 | 90 | +50% |
| Corvallis | $21,000 | 40 | +70% |
| Eugene | $25,000 | 220 | +55% |
| Medford | $27,000 | 110 | +47% |
| Portland | $28,000 | 1,490 | +37% |
| Salem | $22,000 | 270 | +78% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $24,000 | 390 | +7% |
| Altoona | $19,000 | 90 | +56% |
| Erie | $27,000 | 220 | +70% |
| Harrisburg | $22,000 | 570 | +70% |
| Johnstown | $21,000 | 80 | +51% |
| Lancaster | $27,000 | 610 | +150% |
| Lebanon | $24,000 | 90 | +115% |
| Philadelphia | $30,000 | 3,050 | +50% |
| Pittsburgh | $23,000 | 1,820 | +49% |
| Reading | $28,000 | 270 | +59% |
| Scranton | $23,000 | 480 | +77% |
| State College | $22,000 | 150 | +151% |
| Williamsport | $24,000 | 80 | +66% |
| York | $26,000 | 390 | +116% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $28,000 | 710 | +20% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $18,000 | 60 | +13% |
| Charleston | $21,000 | 170 | -43% |
| Columbia | $24,000 | 280 | -24% |
| Greenville | $21,000 | 260 | -17% |
| Myrtle Beach | $29,000 | 80 | -26% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $25,000 | 70 | -50% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $22,000 | 60 | -21% |
| Jackson | $25,000 | 40 | -28% |
| Johnson City | $19,000 | 80 | +16% |
| Kingsport | $19,000 | 90 | -26% |
| Knoxville | $21,000 | 220 | -37% |
| Memphis | $27,000 | 250 | -62% |
| Morristown | $20,000 | 30 | -29% |
| Nashville | $23,000 | 350 | -56% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $21,000 | 110 | +4% |
| Austin | $25,000 | 570 | -32% |
| Corpus Christi | $19,000 | 100 | -45% |
| Dallas | $25,000 | 1,850 | -17% |
| El Paso | $18,000 | 240 | -15% |
| Fort Worth | $20,000 | 1,020 | +11% |
| Houston | $21,000 | 3,370 | +20% |
| Killeen | $19,000 | 50 | -61% |
| Laredo | $18,000 | 90 | +18% |
| Longview | $19,000 | 100 | +6% |
| Lubbock | $26,000 | 150 | +19% |
| Mcallen | $19,000 | 250 | +5% |
| San Angelo | $23,000 | 30 | -21% |
| San Antonio | $25,000 | 690 | -26% |
| Sherman | $19,000 | 30 | -20% |
| Texarkana | $23,000 | 60 | +18% |
| Tyler | $26,000 | 150 | +69% |
| Victoria | $17,000 | 40 | -10% |
| Waco | $21,000 | 120 | +22% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | $22,000 | 110 | +151% |
| Ogden | $25,000 | 270 | +32% |
| Provo | $24,000 | 300 | +73% |
| Salt Lake City | $27,000 | 800 | +24% |
| St George | $21,000 | 50 | +19% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $28,000 | 250 | +125% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg | $23,000 | 50 | -49% |
| Richmond | $26,000 | 400 | -39% |
| Roanoke | $25,000 | 50 | -68% |
| Virginia Beach | $24,000 | 320 | -60% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $27,000 | 110 | +55% |
| Bremerton | $28,000 | 170 | +110% |
| Kennewick | $27,000 | 100 | +1% |
| Mount Vernon | $31,000 | 80 | +97% |
| Olympia | $27,000 | 90 | -8% |
| Seattle | $30,000 | 1,610 | +8% |
| Spokane | $28,000 | 220 | +4% |
| Tacoma | $30,000 | 220 | -20% |
| Wenatchee | $26,000 | 30 | -15% |
| Yakima | $27,000 | 140 | +72% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $21,000 | 40 | -73% |
| Huntington | $20,000 | 200 | +76% |
| Morgantown | $20,000 | 40 | -20% |
| Parkersburg | $19,000 | 60 | -8% |
| Wheeling | $22,000 | 80 | +29% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $22,000 | 190 | +66% |
| Eau Claire | $23,000 | 110 | +54% |
| Fond | $26,000 | 50 | +28% |
| Green Bay | $23,000 | 170 | -1% |
| Madison | $23,000 | 300 | -15% |
| Milwaukee | $23,000 | 980 | +11% |
| Oshkosh | $20,000 | 100 | +16% |
| Racine | $22,000 | 150 | +109% |
| Sheboygan | $24,000 | 60 | +14% |
| Wausau | $25,000 | 30 | -53% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | $22,000 | 40 | +3% |