How to hire a bakery chef

How to hire a bakery chef, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The bakery chef hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect bakery chef also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of bakery chefs and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Bakery Chef	Description	Hourly rate
   Bakery Chef	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.	$12-27
   Head Cook	A head cook is responsible for organizing the food preparation, organizing the kitchen operations, and ensuring the quality of the food presented. Head cooks' duties include monitoring the food inventory, creating new recipes, researching current market trends, responding to guests' inquiries and complaints, distributing kitchen tasks to the staff, and maintaining budget goals while maintaining the highest food quality... Show more	$15-29
   Chef De Cuisine	A chef de cuisine, also known as an executive chef, oversees a kitchen's daily operations in public and private establishments to ensure food quality and efficient services. Their duties require cooking and leadership skills because they involve leading menu development and meal preparation, coordinating staff, delegating responsibilities, selecting and sourcing ingredients, and handling customer issues and concerns promptly and professionally... Show more	$17-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Culinary
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Cost
   • Bakery Products
   • Oven Temperatures
   • Safety Regulations
   • Product Quality

   Responsibilities:

   • Integrate key culinary leaders into casino and food and beverage operations, achieving positive results and industry awards.
   • Experience in safe operation of commercial food service equipment, including deep fryers, ovens, cook tops, and slicers.
   • Own and operate successful gourmet restaurant/bakery/catering service
   • Mix, weigh and proof ingredients in accordance with bakery recipes.
   • Direct or coordinate bakery deliveries.
   • Own and operate successful gourmet restaurant/bakery/catering service

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bakery chef job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A bakery chef salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, bakery chefs' average salary in idaho is 53% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level bakery chefs earn 53% less than senior-level bakery chefs.
   • Certifications. A bakery chef with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a bakery chef's salary.

   Average bakery chef salary

   $40,422yearly

   $19.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bakery chef salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average bakery chef salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$55,683	$27
   2	Nevada	$46,340	$22
   3	Illinois	$43,248	$21
   4	New York	$37,366	$18
   5	Georgia	$34,998	$17

   Average bakery chef salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$49,622	$23.86
   2	P&S Surgical Hospital	$38,340	$18.43	15

4. Writing a bakery chef job description

   A job description for a bakery chef 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 chef job description:

   Bakery chef job description example

   Provides fast, friendly, helpful and efficient service to all Price Chopper customers. Responsible for preparing, baking and merchandising all bakery products under the direct supervision of the bakery manager or first clerk to promote optimal opportunity for sales. Maintains a clean and sanitized work station in accordance with corporate and state sanitation regulations.
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
   
   Assist with the bakery operation within the retail store environment to include preparation, baking, merchandising and final presentation of all bakery products.
   
   Consistently work to provide fast, friendly, helpful and efficient customer service at all times.
   
   Responsible for smiling, making eye contact and thanking customer upon fulfilling customer's request.
   
   Maintain a neat, clean and organized work station, according to 5S standards, at all times.
   
   Responsible for assisting and/or creating customer special orders (i.e.: cake orders).
   
   Responsible for operating bakery department equipment including but not limited to ovens, mixers, and utensils.
   
   Adhere to all corporate and state sanitation regulations in keeping a neat and clean work area.
   
   Must be familiar with state and corporate safety standards.
   
   Control shrink through adherence to related policies and procedures.
   
   Perform other related duties as assigned by management and adheres to all company policies and procedures.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Must be at least 18 years of age.
   
   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
   
   Strong communication skills. Basic Literacy skills
   
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
   
   Exposure to Hot Environment Constant 5-8 Hours
   
   Exposure to Cold Environment Occasional 1-3 Hours
   
   Standing Constant 5-8 Hours
   
   Walking Constant 5-8 Hours
   
   Grasping/Finger Movement & Dexterity- Left/Right Hands Constant 5-8 Hours
   
   Bending Frequent 3-5 Hours
   
   Twisting Frequent 3-5 Hours
   
   Pivoting Frequent 3-5 Hours
   
   Squatting/Kneeling Occasional 1-3 Hours
   
   Lifting Frequent 3-5 Hours up to 50lbs
   
   Lifting Occasional 1-3 Hours up to 100lbs
   
   OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
   
   EQUIPMENT USED
   
   Price Chopper/ Market 32 and the Golub Corporation does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, affection or sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, liability for military service, status as a veteran, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy, and any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
   
   Nearest Major Market: Burlington Vermont

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right bakery chef 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 chef job on Zippia to find and recruit bakery chef candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with bakery chef candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 chef

   Once you've selected the best bakery chef 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 also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bakery chef. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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