How to hire a bakery associate

How to hire a bakery associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bakery associate 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 associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bakery associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a bakery associate do?

Post a bakery associate job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a bakery associate, 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?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a bakery associate to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a bakery associate that fits the bill.

   This list presents bakery associate salaries for various positions.

   Type of Bakery Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Bakery Associate	Food 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
   Kitchen Staff	The kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show more	$11-17
   Kitchen Helper	Kitchen helpers perform various kitchen tasks in restaurants, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Their duties and responsibilities include assisting cooks in the preparation of meal ingredients, helping other staff with unloading food items from delivery trucks, and washing and drying the utensils, dishes, and cookware... Show more	$9-15

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Donuts
   • Food Preparation
   • Bakery Products
   • Safety Regulations
   • Groceries
   • POS
   • Stock Shelves
   • Oven Temperatures
   • Front End
   • Slicers
   • Food Safety
   • Food Products
   • Spatulas

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and complete sales transactions via POS register system.
   • Handle cash, check, WIC check, credit card and other card transactions.
   • Prepare delivery orders for other PCC stores.
   • Brainstorm new recipes and culinary creations to serve in in-store retail.
   • Work with equipment such as ovens, slicers, and wrapping equipment.
   • Apply toppings to bread, run divider, assure quality of product.

   More bakery associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the bakery associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. A bakery associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a bakery associate in Mississippi may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level bakery associate. Additionally, a bakery associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average bakery associate salary

   $13.92hourly

   $28,963 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level bakery associate salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 12, 2026

   Average bakery associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$34,593	$17
   2	Massachusetts	$33,258	$16
   3	New York	$32,641	$16
   4	Minnesota	$29,869	$14
   5	Connecticut	$29,724	$14
   6	Wisconsin	$26,778	$13
   7	Pennsylvania	$26,581	$13
   8	New Jersey	$26,223	$13
   9	Virginia	$25,990	$13
   10	Michigan	$25,424	$12
   11	Ohio	$25,418	$12
   12	Nevada	$24,823	$12
   13	Florida	$24,034	$12
   14	Illinois	$24,020	$12
   15	Texas	$23,251	$11
   16	North Carolina	$22,393	$11
   17	Indiana	$22,007	$11
   18	Tennessee	$19,676	$9
   19	Louisiana	$19,329	$9

   Average bakery associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rich Products	$41,523	$19.96
   2	Ingredion	$35,354	$17.00
   3	Heinen's Grocery Store	$33,554	$16.13	19
   4	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$32,959	$15.85
   5	Hannaford Supermarkets	$32,706	$15.72	4
   6	P&S Surgical Hospital	$32,051	$15.41	17
   7	Wegmans Food Markets	$32,008	$15.39	63
   8	The Kraft Heinz Company	$32,002	$15.39	1
   9	Caraluzzi's Markets	$30,422	$14.63	1
   10	Jerry's Enterprises	$30,212	$14.53	2
   11	Busch's Fresh Food Market	$30,001	$14.42	29
   12	Hugo's Family Marketplace	$29,982	$14.41	20
   13	Kroger	$29,920	$14.38	438
   14	Lake Region	$29,140	$14.01
   15	Ukrop's Homestyle Foods	$28,549	$13.73
   16	Randstad North America, Inc.	$28,222	$13.57
   17	Apartment	$28,019	$13.47
   18	Kwik Trip	$27,833	$13.38	3
   19	Sprinkles	$27,731	$13.33	46
   20	Vertex	$27,298	$13.12

4. Writing a bakery associate job description

   A bakery associate job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a bakery associate job description:

   Bakery associate job description example

   We are hiring for Bakery Associate positions at a leading manufacturer of great tasting, high-quality foods. Our client has been in business for over 125 years and is a socially responsible company that is passionate about their core values and supporting the community where they live and work

   As a Packer you will work independently and as a team member in a fast-paced environment.

   What You Will Do:

   • Making, packing, and assisting in the production of various foods products

   • Move items from place to place, according to the direction from site supervision.

   • Perform specialize tasks which may require on-the-job training.

   What You Need:

   • Attention to detail with good eye hand coordination and accuracy are desired

   • Ability to follow company safety standards / protocols

   • Ability to stand entire shift and lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted

   • Slip resistant shoes, wear hair / beard net, eye and hand protection

   What’s In It for You:

   • $15 per hour with full time hire potential

   • When you work as a contract employee with The Reserves Network, you are eligible to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as Accident, Disability, Life, 401K, and our referral bonus program

   • Work for a company that management believes in a “Set the Tone at the Top” culture

   • PPE provided

   Apply now or contact our Elkin office for more information.

   Company DescriptionThe Reserves Network is a family-owned and veteran-founded company. Since 1984, we have been bringing employers and job seekers together in a variety of industries and positions.
   
   As an equal opportunity employer, we value our employees and foster an environment of respect, integrity and trust in every aspect of employment. However you identify and whatever your background, we encourage you to apply today.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right bakery associate for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bakery associate job on Zippia to find and recruit bakery associate 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 associates, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 associate

   Once you've selected the best bakery associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new bakery associate 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a bakery associate?