Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. Pastry chefs in restaurants and hotels are included with “Chefs and Head Cooks” (35-1011).
National median · BLS
$37,160
▲ +1.39%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$38,480
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
236,200
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Bakers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$28,120
25th
$32,660
Median (50th)
$37,160
75th
$44,360
90th — top pay
$49,020
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Bakers
BLS projects employment of bakers to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 36,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
262,400 → 276,900
+14,500 jobs
Projected change
+5.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
36,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
10.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Bakers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Bakers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Time Management3.0
Critical Thinking2.9
Monitoring2.9
Quality Control Analysis2.9
Reading Comprehension2.9
Speaking2.9
Coordination2.8
Active Learning2.6
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.3
Food Production3.1
Customer and Personal Service2.8
Administration and Management2.8
English Language2.8
Public Safety and Security2.6
Sales and Marketing2.5
Administrative2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordADP Enterprise eTIMEAfcom Datasafe Computer Services FlexiBakeAt Your Service Software CostGuardAxxya Systems Nutritionist ProBarrington Software CookenProCulinary Software Services ChefTecEGS CALCMENUEmail softwareEnggist & Grandjean EGS F&B ControliProLegacyUSA BakeSmartMasters Software CakeBossSage 100 ERPSoftCafe MenuPro
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What bakers do
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Bakers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $37,160.
