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Best states for a pastry chef
Quoted expert
Dave Quisenberry
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for pastry chefs? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for pastry chef jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research shows that Nevada is the best state in the country for pastry chefs.
In order to get you the best states for pastry chefs, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a pastry chef, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for pastry chefs in 2025
1. Nevada
Total pastry chef jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $58,316 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.89
2. District of Columbia
Total pastry chef jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $62,374 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.76
3. Rhode Island
Total pastry chef jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $63,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
4. New York
Total pastry chef jobs: 281 Average annual salary: $63,580 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
5. Pennsylvania
Total pastry chef jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $61,580 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
6. California
Total pastry chef jobs: 632 Average annual salary: $64,351 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
7. New Jersey
Total pastry chef jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $76,926 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
8. Alaska
Total pastry chef jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $51,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 2.52
9. New Hampshire
Total pastry chef jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $54,003 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Massachusetts
Total pastry chef jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $57,842 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
Pastry chef jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a pastry chef
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a pastry chef
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $58,316 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 98 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $62,374 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 73 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $63,675 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 23 |
| 4 | New York | $63,580 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 281 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $61,580 | $34,000 | 12,805,537 | 252 |
| 6 | California | $64,351 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 632 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,926 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 112 |
| 8 | Alaska | $51,477 | $36,000 | 739,795 | 52 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $54,003 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 46 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $57,842 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 202 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $52,869 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 250 |
| 12 | Florida | $50,566 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 613 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $72,197 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 14 | Michigan | $50,640 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 175 |
| 15 | Georgia | $49,723 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 267 |
| 16 | Virginia | $50,975 | $28,000 | 8,470,020 | 280 |
| 17 | Maine | $55,458 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 18 |
| 18 | Maryland | $55,407 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 120 |
| 19 | Illinois | $52,162 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 225 |
| 20 | Washington | $52,791 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 141 |
| 21 | Ohio | $46,779 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 219 |
| 22 | Delaware | $51,990 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 21 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $49,189 | $27,000 | 3,588,184 | 83 |
| 24 | Indiana | $44,342 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 190 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $45,117 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 237 |
| 26 | Texas | $44,122 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 610 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $43,060 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 152 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $42,186 | $26,000 | 579,315 | 23 |
| 29 | Alabama | $43,730 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 91 |
| 30 | Arizona | $41,262 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 275 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $41,291 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 144 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $40,912 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 69 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,613 | $25,000 | 5,607,154 | 180 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $40,203 | $24,000 | 3,930,864 | 77 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $42,804 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 15 |
| 36 | Oregon | $44,427 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 66 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $42,252 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 57 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,029 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 33 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $39,995 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 19 |
| 40 | Missouri | $40,456 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 102 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $39,554 | $23,000 | 5,795,483 | 99 |
| 42 | Montana | $34,270 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 44 |
| 43 | Vermont | $41,046 | $23,000 | 623,657 | 9 |
| 44 | Utah | $31,581 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 114 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $37,170 | $23,000 | 1,920,076 | 39 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $39,394 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 52 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $38,350 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 11 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $36,493 | $21,000 | 3,004,279 | 44 |
| 49 | Idaho | $35,485 | $22,000 | 1,716,943 | 28 |
| 50 | Iowa | $37,183 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 57 |
| 51 | Kansas | $33,046 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 33 |
Highest paying states for pastry chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. Pastry Chef Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $58,316 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $62,374 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $63,675 |
| 4 | New York | $63,580 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $61,580 |
| 6 | California | $64,351 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,926 |
| 8 | Alaska | $51,477 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $54,003 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $57,842 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $52,869 |
| 12 | Florida | $50,566 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $72,197 |
| 14 | Michigan | $50,640 |
| 15 | Georgia | $49,723 |
| 16 | Virginia | $50,975 |
| 17 | Maine | $55,458 |
| 18 | Maryland | $55,407 |
| 19 | Illinois | $52,162 |
| 20 | Washington | $52,791 |
| 21 | Ohio | $46,779 |
| 22 | Delaware | $51,990 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $49,189 |
| 24 | Indiana | $44,342 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $45,117 |
| 26 | Texas | $44,122 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $43,060 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $42,186 |
| 29 | Alabama | $43,730 |
| 30 | Arizona | $41,262 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $41,291 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $40,912 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,613 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $40,203 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $42,804 |
| 36 | Oregon | $44,427 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $42,252 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,029 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $39,995 |
| 40 | Missouri | $40,456 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $39,554 |
| 42 | Montana | $34,270 |
| 43 | Vermont | $41,046 |
| 44 | Utah | $31,581 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $37,170 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $39,394 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $38,350 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $36,493 |
| 49 | Idaho | $35,485 |
| 50 | Iowa | $37,183 |
| 51 | Kansas | $33,046 |
Expert opinions on the best states for pastry chefs
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pastry chefs to find work opportunities?
Dave Quisenberry
Culinary Arts Instructor, Reynolds Community College
While COVID-19 has most of the industry being restricted, one way or another, some sectors have been less affected. Healthcare and Corporate entities have maintained consistent; however, diminished labor needs. Graduates will be forced to consider options such as relocation and redirection of career pathways in the post-pandemic environment. That said, we have seen an unfortunate acceleration of business failures due to the economic impact of COVID-19. The post-pandemic environment will undoubtedly provide opportunities to fill voids in local markets as well as emerging markets, such as home meal replacement, etc. The need for trained professionals will have a much greater demand for emphasis on an understanding of total operational knowledge.
Pastry chef best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025