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The average salary for a pastry chef assistant in the United States is approximately $42,896 annually. This figure translates to about $21 per hour, reflecting the essential role these culinary professionals play in kitchens across the country. Salaries can fluctuate based on geographic location, level of experience, and the specific establishment in which one is employed.
Entry-level pastry chef assistants may start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience can command higher pay. For instance, assistants with over five years in the field might earn closer to $50,000 annually, showcasing the potential for growth.
States such as California and New York typically offer the highest salaries for pastry chef assistants due to the cost of living and demand for skilled culinary talent. Major cities like San Francisco and New York City often provide even greater earning potential.
There are numerous opportunities in bakeries, restaurants, and catering companies. As you develop your skills and experience, consider exploring positions in high-end establishments to maximize your earning potential.
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The highest-paying states for pastry chef assistants are New Jersey, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. The lowest average pastry chef assistant salary states are Arkansas, Kansas, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $51,359 | $24.69 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $56,185 | $27.01 |
| 3 | Alaska | $51,202 | $24.62 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $68,355 | $32.86 |
| 5 | Washington | $52,411 | $25.20 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $47,244 | $22.71 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $55,176 | $26.53 |
| 8 | Michigan | $46,697 | $22.45 |
| 9 | Illinois | $50,558 | $24.31 |
| 10 | New York | $52,094 | $25.05 |
| 11 | Maine | $46,482 | $22.35 |
| 12 | Texas | $46,083 | $22.16 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $52,433 | $25.21 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $60,831 | $29.25 |
| 15 | Colorado | $46,599 | $22.40 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| 17 | Indiana | $44,009 | $21.16 |
| 18 | Ohio | $41,690 | $20.04 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $46,326 | $22.27 |
| 20 | California | $55,119 | $26.50 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $44,012 | $21.16 |
| 22 | Florida | $42,471 | $20.42 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $40,277 | $19.36 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| 25 | Virginia | $44,242 | $21.27 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| 27 | Alabama | $40,609 | $19.52 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $42,534 | $20.45 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $39,334 | $18.91 |
| 30 | Maryland | $46,785 | $22.49 |
| 31 | Oregon | $43,615 | $20.97 |
| 32 | Delaware | $44,215 | $21.26 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $38,137 | $18.34 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $37,621 | $18.09 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $38,818 | $18.66 |
| 36 | Georgia | $38,764 | $18.64 |
| 37 | Montana | $35,828 | $17.23 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $38,918 | $18.71 |
| 39 | Arizona | $36,617 | $17.60 |
| 40 | Missouri | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $37,061 | $17.82 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $38,688 | $18.60 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $31,758 | $15.27 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $31,742 | $15.26 |
| 45 | Iowa | $36,424 | $17.51 |
| 46 | Utah | $31,296 | $15.05 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $36,156 | $17.38 |
| 48 | Vermont | $37,288 | $17.93 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $34,208 | $16.45 |
| 50 | Idaho | $27,443 | $13.19 |
| 51 | Kansas | $32,200 | $15.48 |
The highest-paying cities for pastry chef assistants are Atlantic City, NJ, San Francisco, CA, and Newton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic City, NJ | $68,144 | $32.76 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $57,363 | $27.58 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $56,117 | $26.98 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $52,749 | $25.36 |
| 5 | West Islip, NY | $52,609 | $25.29 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $52,374 | $25.18 |
| 7 | Champaign, IL | $49,856 | $23.97 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $46,681 | $22.44 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | $46,458 | $22.34 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $46,457 | $22.34 |
| 11 | West Lafayette, IN | $44,036 | $21.17 |
| 12 | Eugene, OR | $43,865 | $21.09 |
| 13 | Charlottesville, VA | $43,412 | $20.87 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $41,019 | $19.72 |
| 17 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $40,608 | $19.52 |
| 18 | Morgantown, WV | $38,927 | $18.71 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,902 | $18.70 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $38,735 | $18.62 |
A pastry chef assistant's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $42,896 | $3,575 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of pastry chef assistants are executive chef, chef de cuisine, and sous chef.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | $31,803 | $2,650 | $15.29 | 184,818 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Food Service Coordinator | $32,085 | $2,674 | $15.43 | 79,537 |
| Cooking Chef | $34,973 | $2,914 | $16.81 | 136,558 |
| Chef | $46,824 | $3,902 | $22.51 | 65,737 |
| Line Chef | $26,651 | $2,221 | $12.81 | 144,227 |
Top companies hiring pastry chef assistants now:
Pastry chef assistant salaries at Catholic Health East and Washington Duke Inn are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pastry chef assistant salary at companies like University of Michigan and Campus Cooks are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catholic Health East | $55,502 | $26.68 |
| 2 | Washington Duke Inn | $47,207 | $22.70 |
| 3 | University of Michigan | $45,923 | $22.08 |
| 4 | Campus Cooks | $45,001 | $21.64 |
| 5 | Hhs - Hospital Housekeeping Systems | $44,738 | $21.51 |
| 6 | Dandelion Chocolate | $44,691 | $21.49 |
| 7 | Marriott International | $44,209 | $21.25 |
| 8 | Baptist Village Communities | $43,495 | $20.91 |
| 9 | Waverley Country Club | $43,295 | $20.81 |
| 10 | Environmental Data Resources | $40,950 | $19.69 |
| 11 | Clemson University | $39,588 | $19.03 |
| 12 | City of Dearborn | $39,569 | $19.02 |
| 13 | YWCA North Central Indiana | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| 14 | Station Casinos | $38,469 | $18.49 |
| 15 | October Road | $38,223 | $18.38 |
| 16 | Southminster | $37,819 | $18.18 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh | $37,462 | $18.01 |
| 18 | Caesars Entertainment | $37,232 | $17.90 |
| 19 | Cliffside Malibu | $37,129 | $17.85 |
| 20 | Aloha Hospitality International | $36,436 | $17.52 |
The average pastry chef assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $44,850 | $21.56 |
| 2 | Media | $44,247 | $21.27 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $41,190 | $19.80 |
| 4 | Retail | $36,877 | $17.73 |
The average pastry chef assistant salary has risen by $8,864 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pastry chef assistant earned $34,032 annually, but today, they earn $42,896 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for pastry chef assistants over the last decade.
Compare pastry chef assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare pastry chef assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,900 | $20.62 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $41,400 | $19.91 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | $38,900 | $18.72 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $36,900 | $17.75 | +6.0% |
| 2021 | $34,700 | $16.68 | +3.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Worldwide Services | Disneyland Resort Pastry Job Event-July | Anaheim, CA | 06/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| The Nonantum Resort | Pastry Assistant | Kennebunkport, ME | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Caesars Entertainment Corporation | Chef Restaurant Assistant-Hell's Kitchen (Caesars Atlantic City) | Atlantic City, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $53,000 |
| Fourth and Hope | Chef's Assistant-Day Shift | Woodland, CA | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Suny Geneseo | Chef Assistant-Day Time Hours | Geneseo, NY | 06/12/2025 | $37,670 |
| LCS Senior Living | Chef Assistant | Ames, IA | 05/29/2025 | $34,957 |
| Freedom Pointe at The Villages | Chef Assistant | Ames, IA | 05/28/2025 | $34,957 |
| Palisades Tahoe Resort | Pastry Assistant | Ione, CA | 05/10/2025 | $37,566 |
| Palisades Tahoe | Pastry Assistant | Ione, CA | 05/07/2025 | $38,985 |
| Mary Wade Home, Inc. | PER-Diem Sous Chef, Assisted Living: Chatham Place at Mary Wade | New Haven, CT | 04/28/2025 | $35,479 |
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