Bakers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,120 | $13.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Mean (average) | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 90th percentile | $49,020 | $23.57 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Bakers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,030 | $20,940 | $44,600 | 1,880 | 0.59 |
| Alaska | $39,710 | $34,550 | $64,110 | 430 | 0.88 |
| Arizona | $37,700 | $34,700 | $48,040 | 4,000 | 0.81 |
| Arkansas | $30,380 | $24,670 | $37,810 | 2,400 | 1.21 |
| California | $43,120 | $36,510 | $54,960 | 30,020 | 1.08 |
| Colorado | $40,650 | $32,820 | $56,570 | 4,680 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | $36,460 | $34,010 | $47,930 | 3,670 | 1.43 |
| Delaware | $36,730 | $31,200 | $60,320 | 290 | 0.39 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 | $38,720 | $51,430 | 1,270 | 1.19 |
| Florida | $35,870 | $28,780 | $45,330 | 12,320 | 0.82 |
| Georgia | $35,010 | $22,550 | $46,380 | 7,350 | 0.99 |
| Guam | $24,320 | $19,860 | $32,990 | 160 | 1.59 |
| Hawaii | $46,710 | $32,220 | $66,080 | 1,580 | 1.65 |
| Idaho | $34,060 | $21,100 | $46,110 | 2,230 | 1.71 |
| Illinois | $37,030 | $31,200 | $47,290 | 12,420 | 1.34 |
| Indiana | $36,150 | $22,880 | $47,360 | 3,600 | 0.74 |
| Iowa | $37,210 | $22,920 | $49,610 | 2,150 | 0.91 |
| Kansas | $34,300 | $27,410 | $45,740 | 1,370 | 0.63 |
| Kentucky | $33,890 | $24,440 | $47,810 | 1,630 | 0.54 |
| Louisiana | $28,020 | $21,930 | $40,780 | 2,450 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $37,390 | $32,210 | $46,490 | 1,380 | 1.42 |
| Maryland | $37,040 | $32,220 | $51,150 | 2,740 | 0.65 |
| Massachusetts | $38,130 | $35,080 | $47,750 | 6,070 | 1.1 |
| Michigan | $35,830 | $28,860 | $47,130 | 7,290 | 1.09 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 | $31,110 | $52,970 | 2,660 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | $28,920 | $20,910 | $40,390 | 1,300 | 0.73 |
| Missouri | $35,130 | $29,060 | $46,470 | 4,190 | 0.94 |
| Montana | $37,200 | $26,080 | $50,670 | 990 | 1.28 |
| Nebraska | $35,280 | $28,970 | $47,930 | 1,030 | 0.66 |
| Nevada | $39,540 | $28,540 | $56,060 | 2,040 | 0.87 |
| New Hampshire | $39,500 | $31,760 | $49,230 | 880 | 0.85 |
| New Jersey | $36,960 | $32,220 | $55,280 | 8,110 | 1.25 |
| New Mexico | $34,850 | $29,630 | $44,560 | 1,540 | 1.16 |
| New York | $38,660 | $34,670 | $53,960 | 15,130 | 1.03 |
| North Carolina | $34,510 | $19,690 | $45,800 | 9,320 | 1.24 |
| North Dakota | $36,900 | $29,640 | $46,500 | 830 | 1.27 |
| Ohio | $34,560 | $24,160 | $46,320 | 8,890 | 1.05 |
| Oklahoma | $31,460 | $22,570 | $37,700 | 1,980 | 0.76 |
| Oregon | $39,500 | $33,120 | $51,870 | 4,160 | 1.39 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,360 | $25,430 | $50,470 | 10,380 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,170 | $21,840 | $27,550 | 2,530 | 1.78 |
| Rhode Island | $38,140 | $32,470 | $58,360 | 560 | 0.74 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | $25,340 | $45,330 | 2,940 | 0.84 |
| South Dakota | $38,340 | $28,880 | $50,360 | 330 | 0.47 |
| Tennessee | $34,440 | $22,380 | $46,400 | 5,200 | 1.04 |
| Texas | $33,790 | $24,430 | $44,020 | 16,710 | 0.78 |
| Utah | $36,670 | $26,070 | $47,000 | 3,190 | 1.21 |
| Vermont | $39,980 | $33,260 | $55,430 | 580 | 1.26 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,660 | $29,650 | $33,790 | 100 | 2 |
| Virginia | $34,430 | $28,140 | $46,620 | 7,820 | 1.25 |
| Washington | $46,140 | $36,390 | $60,670 | 6,270 | 1.16 |
| West Virginia | $28,480 | $22,170 | $44,720 | 750 | 0.71 |
| Wisconsin | $37,310 | $29,640 | $48,030 | 4,930 | 1.1 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 | $30,620 | $48,040 | 240 | 0.57 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for bakers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 36,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 10.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for bakers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef CIP 12.0501
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
- Set oven temperatures, and place items into hot ovens for baking.
- Check products for quality, and identify damaged or expired goods.
- Check equipment to ensure that it meets health and safety regulations, and perform maintenance or cleaning, as necessary.
- Adapt the quantity of ingredients to match the amount of items to be baked.
- Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets, and bake in production ovens or on grills.
- Observe color of products being baked, and adjust oven temperatures, humidity, or conveyor speeds accordingly.
- Set time and speed controls for mixing machines, blending machines, or steam kettles so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ADP Enterprise eTIME
- Afcom Datasafe Computer Services FlexiBake
- At Your Service Software CostGuard
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- Barrington Software CookenPro
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- EGS CALCMENU
- Email software
- Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
- LegacyUSA BakeSmart
- Masters Software CakeBoss
- Sage 100 ERP
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Bakery Worker, Bread Baker, Cake Baker, Cake Decorator, Dough Mixer, Mixer, Pastry Cook, Relief Baker, Scaler, Specialty Baker.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do bakers make?
The national median annual wage for bakers was $37,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,120 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $49,020. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do bakers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is bakers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of bakers to change +5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 36,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay bakers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($46,710), Washington ($46,140), District of Columbia ($44,040). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.