Bread baker vs pastry finisher

The differences between bread bakers and pastry finishers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a bread baker and a pastry finisher. Additionally, a pastry finisher has an average salary of $32,857, which is higher than the $28,801 average annual salary of a bread baker.

Bread baker vs pastry finisher overview

	Bread Baker	Pastry Finisher
Yearly salary	$28,801	$32,857
Hourly rate	$13.85	$15.80
Growth rate	8%	8%
Number of jobs	7,751	3,435
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	12	12

Bread baker vs pastry finisher salary

Bread bakers and pastry finishers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bread Baker	Pastry Finisher
Average salary	$28,801	$32,857
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $39,000	Between $24,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	-
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	-
Best paying company	H-E-B	-
Best paying industry	Retail	-

Differences between bread baker and pastry finisher education

There are a few differences between a bread baker and a pastry finisher in terms of educational background:

	Bread Baker	Pastry Finisher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Bread baker vs pastry finisher demographics

Here are the differences between bread bakers' and pastry finishers' demographics:

	Bread Baker	Pastry Finisher
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 51.5% Female, 48.5%	Male, 25.0% Female, 75.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between bread baker and pastry finisher duties and responsibilities

Bread baker example responsibilities.

Manage inventory of ingredients and culinary supplies.
Prepare raw donuts for frying and raw bread for baking.
Prepare artisan pastries, bagels, muffins and cookies daily.
Bake various bread varieties and fry and prepare various varieties of donuts.
Make fresh pastries every morning including; bagels, cookies, brownies, etc.
Decorate cupcakes to owner's specifications using different decorating tools and techniques.

Pastry finisher example responsibilities.

Hire, schedule and manage a staff of 9 direct reports (5 in kitchen and 4 in caf).
Assist ICM with project management responsibilities and updating and editing documentation for ISO compliance.
Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings to bake goods, using spatulas or brushes.

Bread baker vs pastry finisher skills

Common bread baker skills

Culinary, 14%
Food Handling, 12%
Food Safety, 11%
Quality Standards, 10%
Safety Regulations, 10%
Safety Standards, 9%

Common pastry finisher skills

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Updated January 8, 2025

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