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Bakery manager vs pastry chef assistant

The differences between bakery managers and pastry chef assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pastry chef assistant has an average salary of $42,896, which is higher than the $38,223 average annual salary of a bakery manager.

The top three skills for a bakery manager include food safety, customer service and food handling. The most important skills for a pastry chef assistant are kitchen equipment, customer service, and culinary.

Bakery manager vs pastry chef assistant overview

Bakery ManagerPastry Chef Assistant
Yearly salary$38,223$42,896
Hourly rate$18.38$20.62
Growth rate10%15%
Number of jobs97,46819,000
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age3742
Years of experience-6

What does a bakery manager do?

Bakery managers are responsible for the staff's training, schedules, and assignment of tasks. Suggesting changes in the inventory, prices, and products to make based on reports are also part of a manager's job aside from purchasing supplies for the bakery when needed. Being able to communicate with one's subordinates is an important skill to have as a manager to be able to come up with better ideas in decreasing the amount of wasted and unsold products while increasing the sales. A candidate should also have leadership skills as they will be overseeing the sales and operations part of the bakery.

What does a pastry chef assistant do?

Typically, a pastry chef assistant provides help in the daily operations of the pastry kitchen or bakery. Assistant chefs work with the head baker and schedule and supervise kitchen staff and other pastry chefs in their day-to-day tasks. The chefs ensure the availability of all ingredients for the preparation of pastries and any other desserts. Their responsibilities involve the maintenance of food item inventory, handling safe refrigerated and non-refrigerated item storage, and rotating stock.

Bakery manager vs pastry chef assistant salary

Bakery managers and pastry chef assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Bakery ManagerPastry Chef Assistant
Average salary$38,223$42,896
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $47,000Between $27,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAAtlantic City, NJ
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew Jersey
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyCatholic Health East
Best paying industryRetailConstruction

Differences between bakery manager and pastry chef assistant education

There are a few differences between a bakery manager and a pastry chef assistant in terms of educational background:

Bakery ManagerPastry Chef Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorBusinessCulinary Arts
Most common college-Stanford University

Bakery manager vs pastry chef assistant demographics

Here are the differences between bakery managers' and pastry chef assistants' demographics:

Bakery ManagerPastry Chef Assistant
Average age3742
Gender ratioMale, 31.8% Female, 68.2%Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 11.3% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between bakery manager and pastry chef assistant duties and responsibilities

Bakery manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage date perishables and oversee all shipping and receiving for store.
  • Manage receipts, handling of perishables, co-packing and re-packing, maintenance and dispatch of goods.
  • Enforce GMP's and USDA rules and regulations.
  • Monitor associates for GMP or PPE violations.
  • Excel in brainstorming new ways to improve sales and marketing
  • Prepare materials for marketing (flyers, sales messages).
  • Show more

Pastry chef assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage plating and garnishing for all dishes.
  • Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
  • Control and prevent food waste following HACCP.
  • Review daily stock of case items to determine items to refill using date, texture and FIFO standards.
  • Do all the ordering for the bakery, help with the scheduling, do the HACCP for food safety.
  • Maintain and practice FIFO systems at all times as well as date, label, initial and rotate all necessary items.
  • Show more

Bakery manager vs pastry chef assistant skills

Common bakery manager skills
  • Food Safety, 13%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Food Handling, 7%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Bakery Products, 6%
Common pastry chef assistant skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 18%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Culinary, 11%
  • ServSafe, 7%
  • Meal Preparation, 5%
  • Steamers, 5%

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