Best states for a baker

Q: What is the best state for bakers?

The best state to be a baker is New Jersey based on baker salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for bakers?

The highest paying state for bakers is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for bakers?

The worst state for bakers is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a baker and really want to work at Panera Bread? Turns out, your chances to become a baker are better in some states than others.In fact, our research shows that New Jersey is the best state for bakers in America. The best city in America for bakers with the highest pay is Nashua, NH.

The median salary for bakers in New Jersey is $34,769. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $19,835, which ranked worst for bakers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that New Jersey is the best state for baker jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.

10 best states for bakers in 2025

1. New Jersey
Total baker jobs: 233
Average annual salary: $34,769
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Baker jobs in New Jersey
2. New Hampshire
Total baker jobs: 39
Average annual salary: $36,864
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.03
Baker jobs in New Hampshire
3. New York
Total baker jobs: 264
Average annual salary: $34,962
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Baker jobs in New York
4. Massachusetts
Total baker jobs: 145
Average annual salary: $36,257
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.73
Baker jobs in Massachusetts
5. Delaware
Total baker jobs: 35
Average annual salary: $30,813
Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Baker jobs in Delaware
6. Maine
Total baker jobs: 22
Average annual salary: $34,937
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.77
Baker jobs in Maine
7. Vermont
Total baker jobs: 12
Average annual salary: $35,707
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Baker jobs in Vermont
8. Connecticut
Total baker jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $31,415
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Baker jobs in Connecticut
9. California
Total baker jobs: 712
Average annual salary: $31,477
Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Baker jobs in California
10. Wisconsin
Total baker jobs: 118
Average annual salary: $28,775
Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Baker jobs in Wisconsin

Baker jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a baker

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a baker

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Jersey	$34,769	$25,000	9,005,644	233
2	New Hampshire	$36,864	$27,000	1,342,795	39
3	New York	$34,962	$25,000	19,849,399	264
4	Massachusetts	$36,257	$27,000	6,859,819	145
5	Delaware	$30,813	$21,000	961,939	35
6	Maine	$34,937	$27,000	1,335,907	22
7	Vermont	$35,707	$27,000	623,657	12
8	Connecticut	$31,415	$23,000	3,588,184	96
9	California	$31,477	$21,000	39,536,653	712
10	Wisconsin	$28,775	$20,000	5,795,483	118
11	Virginia	$29,129	$20,000	8,470,020	312
12	Rhode Island	$32,027	$23,000	1,059,639	16
13	Pennsylvania	$27,405	$19,000	12,805,537	303
14	Washington	$31,907	$22,000	7,405,743	94
15	Michigan	$26,935	$19,000	9,962,311	216
16	Arizona	$27,065	$18,000	7,016,270	221
17	Maryland	$30,076	$21,000	6,052,177	140
18	Oregon	$29,647	$20,000	4,142,776	71
19	Minnesota	$29,933	$21,000	5,576,606	85
20	District of Columbia	$34,887	$24,000	693,972	8
21	North Dakota	$26,933	$19,000	755,393	18
22	Ohio	$25,119	$17,000	11,658,609	308
23	Tennessee	$26,402	$18,000	6,715,984	107
24	Illinois	$28,118	$19,000	12,802,023	183
25	Nevada	$25,273	$17,000	2,998,039	50
26	Wyoming	$26,944	$18,000	579,315	7
27	North Carolina	$23,375	$16,000	10,273,419	458
28	New Mexico	$24,215	$16,000	2,088,070	52
29	Colorado	$28,094	$19,000	5,607,154	59
30	Montana	$26,901	$18,000	1,050,493	13
31	Iowa	$24,567	$17,000	3,145,711	63
32	South Carolina	$23,217	$16,000	5,024,369	168
33	Florida	$26,049	$18,000	20,984,400	234
34	Utah	$24,922	$17,000	3,101,833	45
35	South Dakota	$23,961	$16,000	869,666	16
36	West Virginia	$22,203	$15,000	1,815,857	38
37	Missouri	$23,522	$16,000	6,113,532	118
38	Hawaii	$27,193	$21,000	1,427,538	6
39	Nebraska	$24,195	$16,000	1,920,076	25
40	Indiana	$22,451	$15,000	6,666,818	133
41	Kansas	$23,474	$16,000	2,913,123	36
42	Idaho	$22,818	$15,000	1,716,943	29
43	Texas	$22,369	$15,000	28,304,596	414
44	Georgia	$23,254	$16,000	10,429,379	150
45	Alaska	$24,737	$19,000	739,795	8
46	Louisiana	$21,727	$15,000	4,684,333	68
47	Kentucky	$20,584	$14,000	4,454,189	85
48	Alabama	$22,030	$15,000	4,874,747	45
49	Arkansas	$21,512	$15,000	3,004,279	25
50	Oklahoma	$20,943	$14,000	3,930,864	41
51	Mississippi	$19,835	$13,000	2,984,100	24

Highest paying states for bakers

Rank	State	Avg. Baker Salary
1	New Jersey	$34,769
2	New Hampshire	$36,864
3	New York	$34,962
4	Massachusetts	$36,257
5	Delaware	$30,813
6	Maine	$34,937
7	Vermont	$35,707
8	Connecticut	$31,415
9	California	$31,477
10	Wisconsin	$28,775
11	Virginia	$29,129
12	Rhode Island	$32,027
13	Pennsylvania	$27,405
14	Washington	$31,907
15	Michigan	$26,935
16	Arizona	$27,065
17	Maryland	$30,076
18	Oregon	$29,647
19	Minnesota	$29,933
20	District of Columbia	$34,887
21	North Dakota	$26,933
22	Ohio	$25,119
23	Tennessee	$26,402
24	Illinois	$28,118
25	Nevada	$25,273
26	Wyoming	$26,944
27	North Carolina	$23,375
28	New Mexico	$24,215
29	Colorado	$28,094
30	Montana	$26,901
31	Iowa	$24,567
32	South Carolina	$23,217
33	Florida	$26,049
34	Utah	$24,922
35	South Dakota	$23,961
36	West Virginia	$22,203
37	Missouri	$23,522
38	Hawaii	$27,193
39	Nebraska	$24,195
40	Indiana	$22,451
41	Kansas	$23,474
42	Idaho	$22,818
43	Texas	$22,369
44	Georgia	$23,254
45	Alaska	$24,737
46	Louisiana	$21,727
47	Kentucky	$20,584
48	Alabama	$22,030
49	Arkansas	$21,512
50	Oklahoma	$20,943
51	Mississippi	$19,835

Baker best states FAQs

What is the best state for bakers?

What is the highest paying state for bakers?

What is the worst state for bakers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for baker jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

Total baker jobs:	233
Average annual salary:	$34,769
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$48,000
Location Quotient:	1.36

Best states for a baker

10 best states for bakers in 2025

1. New Jersey

2. New Hampshire

3. New York

4. Massachusetts

5. Delaware

6. Maine

7. Vermont

8. Connecticut

9. California

10. Wisconsin