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Baker salary
Average baker salary
$14.25
Average Baker Salary
The average salary for a baker as of October 2025 is approximately $29,640 per year or about $14 per hour. However, these figures can fluctuate based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific employer.
Where Can Bakers Earn More?
In certain states, bakers may find higher wages. For example, states like California and New York often offer competitive salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled bakers. Additionally, bakeries in urban areas typically provide better compensation compared to rural settings.
Salary by Experience Level
Bakers with more experience tend to earn higher salaries. Entry-level positions may start at around $25,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $35,000 or more. Specializing in areas like pastry or artisan bread can also lead to increased pay.
Conclusion
Overall, bakers have a variety of opportunities to enhance their earnings through specialization, experience, and by seeking employment in higher-paying regions.
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Where can a Baker earn more?
Baker salaries by experience level
Baker salary estimates from across the web
Average baker salary by state
The highest-paying states for bakers are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The lowest average baker salary states are Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for bakers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $34,769 | $16.72 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $36,864 | $17.72 |
| 3 | New York | $34,962 | $16.81 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $36,257 | $17.43 |
| 5 | Delaware | $30,813 | $14.81 |
| 6 | Maine | $34,937 | $16.80 |
| 7 | Vermont | $35,707 | $17.17 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $31,415 | $15.10 |
| 9 | California | $31,477 | $15.13 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $28,775 | $13.83 |
| 11 | Virginia | $29,129 | $14.00 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $32,027 | $15.40 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $27,405 | $13.18 |
| 14 | Washington | $31,907 | $15.34 |
| 15 | Michigan | $26,935 | $12.95 |
| 16 | Arizona | $27,065 | $13.01 |
| 17 | Maryland | $30,076 | $14.46 |
| 18 | Oregon | $29,647 | $14.25 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $29,933 | $14.39 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $34,887 | $16.77 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $26,933 | $12.95 |
| 22 | Ohio | $25,119 | $12.08 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $26,402 | $12.69 |
| 24 | Illinois | $28,118 | $13.52 |
| 25 | Nevada | $25,273 | $12.15 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $26,944 | $12.95 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $23,375 | $11.24 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $24,215 | $11.64 |
| 29 | Colorado | $28,094 | $13.51 |
| 30 | Montana | $26,901 | $12.93 |
| 31 | Iowa | $24,567 | $11.81 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $23,217 | $11.16 |
| 33 | Florida | $26,049 | $12.52 |
| 34 | Utah | $24,922 | $11.98 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $23,961 | $11.52 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $22,203 | $10.67 |
| 37 | Missouri | $23,522 | $11.31 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $27,193 | $13.07 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $24,195 | $11.63 |
| 40 | Indiana | $22,451 | $10.79 |
| 41 | Kansas | $23,474 | $11.29 |
| 42 | Idaho | $22,818 | $10.97 |
| 43 | Texas | $22,369 | $10.75 |
| 44 | Georgia | $23,254 | $11.18 |
| 45 | Alaska | $24,737 | $11.89 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $21,727 | $10.45 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $20,584 | $9.90 |
| 48 | Alabama | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $21,512 | $10.34 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $20,943 | $10.07 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $19,835 | $9.54 |
Highest paying cities for bakers
The highest-paying cities for bakers are Nashua, NH, Boston, MA, and South Portland, ME.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashua, NH | $36,888 | $17.73 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $36,274 | $17.44 |
| 3 | South Portland, ME | $35,085 | $16.87 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $34,889 | $16.77 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $34,864 | $16.76 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $31,936 | $15.35 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $31,452 | $15.12 |
| 8 | Dover, DE | $30,571 | $14.70 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $29,898 | $14.37 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $29,565 | $14.21 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $28,919 | $13.90 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $28,815 | $13.85 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $28,331 | $13.62 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $27,093 | $13.03 |
| 16 | Knoxville, TN | $26,717 | $12.84 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $26,594 | $12.79 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $26,095 | $12.55 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $25,197 | $12.11 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24,902 | $11.97 |
Bakers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Baker salary details
A baker's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a baker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
Highest paying baker jobs
The highest paying types of bakers are baker, manufacturing, pie maker, and dough maker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deli/Bakery Clerk | $31,612 | $2,634 | $15.20 | 105,572 |
| Bakery Clerk | $28,651 | $2,388 | $13.77 | 67,778 |
Top companies hiring bakers now:
Which companies pay bakers the most?
Baker salaries at University of Massachusetts Boston and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average baker salary at companies like Massachusetts General Hospital and UMass Lowell are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Boston | $50,214 | $24.14 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $41,308 | $19.86 |
| 3 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $38,589 | $18.55 |
| 4 | UMass Lowell | $37,667 | $18.11 |
| 5 | Costco Wholesale | $37,541 | $18.05 |
| 6 | Target | $36,521 | $17.56 |
| 7 | Bank of America | $36,305 | $17.45 |
| 8 | Global Partners | $36,103 | $17.36 |
| 9 | University of California | $36,042 | $17.33 |
| 10 | P&R Enterprises | $34,978 | $16.82 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin System | $34,896 | $16.78 |
| 12 | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | $34,713 | $16.69 |
| 13 | The N&D Group | $34,655 | $16.66 |
| 14 | PCC Community Markets | $34,579 | $16.62 |
| 15 | United Natural Foods | $34,576 | $16.62 |
| 16 | McMenamins Pubs & Breweries | $34,359 | $16.52 |
| 17 | Arden Group | $34,313 | $16.50 |
| 18 | Vallarta Supermarkets | $34,310 | $16.50 |
| 19 | Bristol Farms | $34,270 | $16.48 |
| 20 | Hyatt Hotels | $34,251 | $16.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Baker salary by industry
The average baker salary varies across industries:
- The average baker salary in the retail industry is $32,174, the highest of any industry.
- The average baker salary in the finance industry is $31,018.
- Bakers in the agriculture industry earn an average salary of $27,679, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for bakers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $32,174 | $15.47 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $31,018 | $14.91 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $29,429 | $14.15 |
| 4 | Agriculture | $27,679 | $13.31 |
High paying baker jobs
Baker salary trends
The average baker salary has risen by $6,200 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average baker earned $23,440 annually, but today, they earn $29,640 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for bakers over the last decade.
Compare baker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average baker salary over time
Compare baker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Baker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,600 | $14.25 | +5.8% |
| 2024 | $27,900 | $13.43 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $26,700 | $12.85 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $25,900 | $12.45 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $25,300 | $12.16 | +3.7% |
Recently added baker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panera Bread | Baker | Buffalo, NY | 06/30/2025 | $32,349 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Parks, LA | 06/30/2025 | $25,566 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $27,653 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Pony, MT | 06/30/2025 | $25,566 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $33,329 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Alexandria, VA | 06/30/2025 | $25,044 |
| Panera Bread | Baker | Ione, WA | 06/30/2025 | $36,523 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Baker | Belmont, MA | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Baker | Bloomington, MN | 06/30/2025 | $24,355 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | Baker | Naperville, IL | 06/30/2025 | $30,408 |
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