What are the pros and cons of being a baker?

The pros and cons of being a baker relate to education requirements, flexibility, and work schedules. Here are the top pros and cons of being a baker:

Pros:

• Education requirements

There are not any strict educational requirements to become a baker, you can be completely self-taught in this field if you choose. While there are culinary schools and baking programs you can attend, you can also learn how to bake from a wide variety of free resources, including online information and tutorials, and books from the public library.

• Flexibility

There is a lot of flexibility in the field of baking. Bakers can work for themselves, small businesses, or large companies and restaurants. Bakers also have the opportunity to specialize in different types of baking, such as:

• Dessert baking (cupcakes, cakes, donuts, etc.)

• Bread baking

• Gluten-free baking

• Vegan baking

This gives bakers the opportunity to capitalize on niche markets in baking or simply to master several different types of baking to make them an appealing job candidate.

• Baking is creative

Once you have the basics and a strong foundation in baking, you can then go get creative and experiment. This not only concerns what you choose to bake and with what ingredients, but also the design and aesthetic of whatever you are choosing to bake. Many bankers get to create themed baked goods for special occasions or even just for fun.

• Non-traditional work schedule

This doesn't hold true for every baker, but those running their own small business or working for a certain organization, like a catering company, have the opportunity to create their own hours to a degree. Many bakers do their work at night so their baked goods will be fresh the next morning.

• You get to see people enjoy your creations

Many bakers experience a sense of pride when they see a customer enjoying one of their creations. They can also derive satisfaction and fulfillment from seeing customers appreciate the designs of their baked goods and all of the hard work they put into making them.

Cons:

While many bakers do get to make their own hours to a degree, many also have to work on weekends and the holidays. These two times are peak times for customers looking for baked goods.

• Issues with sleep

As was touched on earlier, bakers often work late at night to have fresh baked goods for the morning. While some prefer this night owl schedule, it can also cause sleep issues like insomnia for certain bakers. Sleep problems are fairly common in the baking industry.

• Earning potential

The average salaries of bakers in the United States are actually quite low, with the average annual income of a baker being around $28,000 per year. And entry-level bakers have it even worse with an average salary of $20,000 per year. Some bakers who start their own small businesses can make much more than this, but those employed by others don't do very well.