Baker vs pastry decorator

The differences between bakers and pastry decorators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a baker and a pastry decorator. Additionally, a pastry decorator has an average salary of $31,862, which is higher than the $29,640 average annual salary of a baker.

The top three skills for a baker include excellent organizational, cleanliness and food preparation. The most important skills for a pastry decorator are custom orders, specialty cakes, and .

Baker vs pastry decorator overview

	Baker	Pastry Decorator
Yearly salary	$29,640	$31,862
Hourly rate	$14.25	$15.32
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	10,867	3,176
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	12	12

Baker vs pastry decorator salary

Bakers and pastry decorators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Baker	Pastry Decorator
Average salary	$29,640	$31,862
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $41,000	Between $23,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Nashua, NH	-
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	-
Best paying company	University of Massachusetts Boston	-
Best paying industry	Retail	-

Differences between baker and pastry decorator education

There are a few differences between a baker and a pastry decorator in terms of educational background:

	Baker	Pastry Decorator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Baker vs pastry decorator demographics

Here are the differences between bakers' and pastry decorators' demographics:

	Baker	Pastry Decorator
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3%	Male, 18.7% Female, 81.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 8.3% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 8.6% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between baker and pastry decorator duties and responsibilities

Baker example responsibilities.

Manage inventory of ingredients and culinary supplies.
Prepare foods for cafeteria and patients, operate cash register in cafeteria, sanitize food preparation and service areas.
Operate industrial ovens and stoves.
Help selling merchandise and run the store.
Gain valuable experience in servicing VIP requests.
Assist customers, run register, stock goods.

Pastry decorator example responsibilities.

Maintain high CIA standards in all dessert preparation and presentation
Decorate cupcakes to owner's specifications using different decorating tools and techniques.
Keep slicers clean to health department standards between usages.
Handle the meat slicers, clean and sanitize after use.
Compete in Walmart cake decorating competition.

Baker vs pastry decorator skills

Common baker skills

Excellent Organizational, 38%
Cleanliness, 8%
Food Preparation, 5%
Quality Standards, 4%
Food Handling, 4%
Safety Regulations, 4%

Common pastry decorator skills

Custom Orders, 59%
Specialty Cakes, 41%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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