All careers › Bakers
Baker: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $28,120lowest 10% earn less
- $32,66025th percentile
- $37,160median
- $44,36075th percentile
- $49,020top 10% earn more
Bakers, a group whose O*NET sample titles include pastry cook[1], earned a median of $37,160 a year in May 2025[2]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, and no formal educational credential is typical for entry[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.5%[3]
- Openings per year
- 36,500[7]
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential[4]
How much do bakers make?
The median pay for bakers was $37,160 a year, or $17.86 an hour, in May 2025[2]. Half of bakers earned more than that and half earned less[2]. The average was $38,480 a year, or $18.50 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[6]. So the typical baker earned less than the typical US worker.
Pay varies within the job. The lowest-paid 10% of bakers earned less than $28,120 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $49,020[5]. These figures are percentile boundaries. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].
| Point in the pay range | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5][10] | $28,120 | $13.52 |
| 25th percentile[5][10] | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| Median[2] | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| 75th percentile[5][10] | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| 90th percentile[5][10] | $49,020 | $23.57 |
These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses outside regular production or the cost of benefits[11]. About 10.1% of bakers were self-employed in 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
Hawaii had the highest median pay for bakers at $46,710 a year, followed by Washington at $46,140 and the District of Columbia at $44,040[13]. California came next at $43,120[13]. Louisiana had the lowest median among the states with published data, at $28,020[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Chambersburg, PA had the highest median at $48,640, followed by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $48,180 and Urban Honolulu, HI at $47,150[14].
The most jobs were in California (30,020), Texas (16,710), New York (15,130), Illinois (12,420) and Florida (12,320)[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City with 16,560 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with 10,580 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin with 9,920[16].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii[13] | $46,710 | 1,580 |
| Washington | $46,140 | 6,270 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 | 1,270 |
| California | $43,120 | 30,020 |
| Colorado | $40,650 | 4,680 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 | 2,660 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 | 240 |
| Vermont | $39,980 | 580 |
| Alaska | $39,710 | 430 |
| Nevada | $39,540 | 2,040 |
| New Hampshire | $39,500 | 880 |
| Oregon | $39,500 | 4,160 |
| New York | $38,660 | 15,130 |
| South Dakota | $38,340 | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $38,140 | 560 |
| Massachusetts | $38,130 | 6,070 |
| Arizona | $37,700 | 4,000 |
| Maine | $37,390 | 1,380 |
| Wisconsin | $37,310 | 4,930 |
| Iowa | $37,210 | 2,150 |
| Montana | $37,200 | 990 |
| Maryland | $37,040 | 2,740 |
| Illinois | $37,030 | 12,420 |
| New Jersey | $36,960 | 8,110 |
| North Dakota | $36,900 | 830 |
| Delaware | $36,730 | 290 |
| Utah | $36,670 | 3,190 |
| Connecticut | $36,460 | 3,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,360 | 10,380 |
| Indiana | $36,150 | 3,600 |
| Florida | $35,870 | 12,320 |
| Michigan | $35,830 | 7,290 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 | 2,940 |
| Nebraska | $35,280 | 1,030 |
| Missouri | $35,130 | 4,190 |
| Georgia | $35,010 | 7,350 |
| New Mexico | $34,850 | 1,540 |
| Ohio | $34,560 | 8,890 |
| North Carolina | $34,510 | 9,320 |
| Tennessee | $34,440 | 5,200 |
| Virginia | $34,430 | 7,820 |
| Kansas | $34,300 | 1,370 |
| Idaho | $34,060 | 2,230 |
| Alabama | $34,030 | 1,880 |
| Kentucky | $33,890 | 1,630 |
| Texas | $33,790 | 16,710 |
| Oklahoma | $31,460 | 1,980 |
| Arkansas | $30,380 | 2,400 |
| Mississippi | $28,920 | 1,300 |
| West Virginia | $28,480 | 750 |
| Louisiana | $28,020 | 2,450 |
How to become a baker
No formal educational credential is typical for entry, and no work experience in a related job is needed[4]. Employers may still prefer a high school diploma[17]. A typical path looks like this:
- First: Get a high school diploma if you can. Culinary classes at school may help if they are offered[18].
- Next: Consider a program (optional). Some people attend a technical, culinary arts or baking program covering nutrition, food safety and pastry techniques. These programs typically last 1 to 2 years and may ask for a high school diploma or equivalent[19].
- Then: Learn on the job. Most bakers pick up their skills through on-the-job training, which may last up to 1 year[20]. BLS classes the training as moderate-term[4]. Some employers run apprenticeships that take months or years[20]. Training covers baking and decorating methods, production steps and food safety[21].
- Later: Work your way up. Some bakers start as a baker's assistant and take on more duties over time[22].
- Also: Check on food safety certification. Employers may require it, and your state or local health department can tell you how to get it[23]. Other certification is optional and may make a candidate more attractive to employers[24]. CareerOneStop lists certification information[25].
O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[26]. BLS lists communication, attention to detail and basic math, especially fractions, as useful qualities[27][28][29].
What bakers do
Bakers mix and bake ingredients to make breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies and pastries[30]. Workers report titles such as bread baker, cake baker, cake decorator and pastry cook[1]. Typical tasks include:
- Weighing or measuring flour and other ingredients for batters, doughs, fillings and icings[31]
- Setting oven temperatures and loading items into hot ovens[31]
- Scaling ingredient amounts up or down to match how much needs to be baked[31]
- Shaping dough into pans, molds or onto sheets[31]
- Watching the color of baking products and adjusting oven settings[31]
- Setting mixing and blending machines and combining ingredients in them[31]
- Checking finished products and raw materials for quality[31]
- Checking and cleaning equipment to meet health and safety rules[31]
Where bakers work
The largest employer group in 2025 was bakeries and tortilla manufacturing, at 30% of bakers[32]. Bakeries, especially large production sites, have hazards such as hot ovens, mixers and dough cutters[33]. The work is generally safe, but bakers may get back strain from lifting, along with cuts, scrapes and burns. To lower the risk, they often use back supports and protective aprons and gloves that resist heat[33].
The job means heat from ovens and long periods on your feet[34]. It can be stressful, since quality has to stay consistent while baking steps run on tight timing, often against a deadline[35].
Full-time work is typical, and part-time work is common[36]. Shifts can include early morning, night, weekend or holiday hours, and some facilities run around the clock[36].
Job outlook
BLS projects that employment of bakers will grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 262,400 to 276,900 jobs, a gain of 14,500[3]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5% over the same period[37]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[3].
BLS also projects about 36,500 openings for bakers each year on average[7]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[7]. Each year, 5.5% of bakers leave the labor force and 7.5% move to a different occupation[38].
Is it a good fit?
The facts point to a job with a low entry bar. No formal credential is typical, and training happens mostly on the job[4][20]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, with a median of $37,160 against $50,980[2][6]. Growth is projected at 5.5%, above the 3.5% for all occupations, and openings run at about 36,500 a year[3][37][7]. The work involves heat, standing for long stretches and shifts that can fall early, late or on weekends and holidays[34][36]. Pay also differs by state, so the figures for your area matter[13].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a baker make an hour?
- The median was $17.86 an hour in May 2025[2]. The 10th percentile was $13.52 and the 90th percentile was $23.57[10].
- Do you need a degree to be a baker?
- No. No formal educational credential is typical for entry[4]. Employers may prefer a high school diploma, and some people attend a technical or culinary school[17].
- How long does it take to become a baker?
- On-the-job training may last up to 1 year[20]. Baking and culinary programs typically last 1 to 2 years[19].
Facts and sources
- O*NET 51-3011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bakery Worker, Bread Baker, Cake Baker, Cake Decorator, Dough Mixer, Mixer, Pastry Cook, Relief Baker. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bakers in the US was $37,160 per year and $17.86 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bakers is projected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 262,400 to 276,900 jobs (a change of +14,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bakers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bakers: 10th percentile $28,120, 25th percentile $32,660, 75th percentile $44,360, 90th percentile $49,020. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 36,500 openings for Bakers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bakers was $38,480 per year and $18.50 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bakers: 10th percentile $13.52, 25th percentile $15.70, 75th percentile $21.33, 90th percentile $23.57. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 10.1% of Bakers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Bakers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bakers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Chambersburg, PA $48,640; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,180; Urban Honolulu, HI $47,150; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $47,020; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $46,960; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $46,600; Napa, CA $46,360; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bakers jobs: California 30,020; Texas 16,710; New York 15,130; Illinois 12,420; Florida 12,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bakers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 16,560 (median $38,890); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,580 (median $39,260); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 9,920 (median $37,230); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,740 (median $38,650); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,160 (median $34,350); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 4,820 (median $46,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 51-3011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Bakers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Bakers. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of bakers in 2025: Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing 30%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bakers: 5.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.