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How to hire a bakery assistant

Bakery assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring bakery assistants in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a bakery assistant is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per bakery assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 67,330 bakery assistants in the US and 7,777 job openings.
  • Ann Arbor, MI, has the highest demand for bakery assistants, with 4 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of bakery assistants.

How to hire a bakery assistant, step by step

To hire a bakery assistant, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a bakery assistant:

Here's a step-by-step bakery assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a bakery assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bakery assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a bakery assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A bakery assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bakery assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of bakery assistant salaries for various roles:

    Type of Bakery AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Bakery AssistantFood preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.$8-22
    Deli ClerkA deli clerk is responsible for providing healthy food recommendations to the customers, assisting them with their inquiries, and providing special offers. Deli clerks' duties include maintaining the highest sanitation procedures within the working area, updating the customers with the products' promotions, updating displays regularly, researching the latest market trends for product recommendations, and adhering to the company's safety standards and regulations... Show more$11-20
    Food Prep/DishwasherA food prep/dishwasher's role is to perform food preparation and cleaning duties in a kitchen, under the supervision and directives of a chef or manager. One of their primary responsibilities is washing dishes, sanitizing utensils, and preparing ingredients by washing, peeling, and cutting them according to size... Show more$11-17
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Bakery Products
    • Cake Orders
    • Food Preparation
    • Bakery Equipment
    • Dishes
    • Safety Regulations
    • Customer Orders
    • Bakery Operations
    • Sales Floor
    • Groceries
    • POS
    • Oven Temperatures
    • Front End
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage self-checkout POS terminals for purchase accuracy.
    • Push carts from the parking lot into the store vestibules, bag groceries for customers.
    • Maintain highest standard of bakery product quality and bakery safety and cleanliness.
    • Control freshness by rotating and coding all products legibly according to Walmart policies and procedures.
    More bakery assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your bakery assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A bakery assistant can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, bakery assistants' average salary in louisiana is 46% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level bakery assistants 61% less than senior-level bakery assistants.
    • Certifications. A bakery assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a bakery assistant's salary.

    Average bakery assistant salary

    $14.28hourly

    $29,700 yearly

    Entry-level bakery assistant salary
    $18,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025

    Average bakery assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$34,158$16
    2District of Columbia$34,080$16
    3Massachusetts$33,649$16
    4New York$32,915$16
    5California$31,418$15
    6Connecticut$31,095$15
    7New Jersey$30,350$15
    8Michigan$28,311$14
    9Colorado$27,285$13
    10Utah$26,223$13
    11Wisconsin$25,967$12
    12Texas$25,631$12
    13North Carolina$25,564$12
    14Kentucky$23,717$11
    15South Carolina$22,649$11
    16Arkansas$22,181$11
    17Ohio$20,918$10

    Average bakery assistant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1University of Massachusetts Boston$57,388$27.59
    2City$36,128$17.37
    3Costco Wholesale$35,846$17.23261
    4Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32$33,094$15.91
    5P&S Surgical Hospital$32,305$15.5314
    6Wegmans Food Markets$32,095$15.4315
    7Busch's Fresh Food Market$30,168$14.5030
    8C&S Wholesale Grocers$29,530$14.201
    9IES$29,465$14.17
    10Randstad North America, Inc.$28,586$13.74
    11Sweet Potatoes$28,393$13.65
    12Sodexo Management, Inc.$27,472$13.216
    13Aramark$26,066$12.538
    14University of Massachusetts Amherst$25,643$12.33
    15Harris Teeter$25,605$12.3183
    16Giant Eagle$25,455$12.24
    17Nothing Bundt Cakes$25,203$12.12172
    18University of Arkansas$24,032$11.55
  4. Writing a bakery assistant job description

    A job description for a bakery assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a bakery assistant job description:

    Bakery assistant job description example

    Starting wage up to:$19.50/hr

    Calling all Foodies! Don’t romaine calm, Busch’s is HIRING! Do you love food, fun and people? Are you looking for growth, development and excellent wages? We could make the perfect pear!

    Our industry is ever changing and we are looking for individuals who are passionate about food and people. We are a family-owned, Michigan based company that is heavily rooted in the communities we serve. Busch’s offers its employees benefits such as employee discounts, medical benefits including dental and optical, 401K with company match (restrictions apply) and even tuition reimbursement for qualifying students!

    Specific Accountabilities:

    • Execute policies, programs and procedures defined for deli/bakery operations.
    • Merchandise, price and stock all deli/bakery product.
    • Ensure all waste is scanned out to maintain accurate loss records.
    • Assist guests with product recommendations and locations, product requests, special orders, etc.
    • Sell, merchandise, receive and store product.
    • Ensure all product, including sandwiches, salads, hot meals, special orders and catering are prepared to specifications.

    Managerial Accountabilities:

    • Exemplify key concepts of hospitality when interacting with guests.
    • Oversee all aspects of deli/bakery operations as person in charge in manager’s absence.
    • Provide input to manager concerning associate performance and department conditions
    • Contribute to organizational effectiveness by offering information, suggestions and recommendations.
    • Communicate and work with other functional areas of Busch’s operations.
    • Adhere to all Busch’s policies, practices and procedures.
    • Maintain professional and technical knowledge by completing educational opportunities, reviewing professional publications, benchmarking state of the art practices and networking.
    • Build strong working relationships with guests, vendors and associates.

    PM20

    ?Requirements:

    • High school diploma.
    • 1 year experience working in a high volume food service, restaurant, or retail environment.
    • Food safety certification preferred.
    • Proficient organization and planning skills, especially to manage multiple deadlines and projects.
    • Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, including written, verbal and listening skills.
    • Proficient computer skills in Excel, Word and email. Able to learn and use a variety of proprietary applications and technology.
    • Strong analytical, problem solving and decision making skills.

    Busch’s is a family owned premier grocery retailer with multiple stores in Southeast Michigan. We are consistently recognized by our guests as an industry leader when it comes to service, product selection, store design and overall atmosphere. You can take pride in being a member of the Busch’s family and working in an environment where we truly care about our guests and the products we serve. We also take great care of the associates that take care of our guests. At Busch’s, we realize that without caring, motivated and personable associates, there would be no guests to serve.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find bakery assistants for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your bakery assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit bakery assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit bakery assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bakery assistant

    Once you've found the bakery assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new bakery assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a bakery assistant?

Hiring a bakery assistant comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting bakery assistants involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of bakery assistant recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Bakery assistants earn a median yearly salary is $29,700 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find bakery assistants for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $8 and $22.

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