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The average salary for a pastry baker in the United States is approximately $32,209 annually, translating to about $15 per hour. Salaries can differ based on various factors such as location, experience, and the type of establishment. For instance, pastry bakers working in high-end restaurants or hotels typically command higher wages compared to those in smaller bakeries.
Location plays a significant role in determining salary. States like California and New York often offer the highest wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled bakers. In contrast, bakers in less populated areas may find lower average salaries but might benefit from reduced living costs.
Experience is another key factor. Entry-level positions may start at around $11 per hour, while seasoned bakers with specialized skills can earn significantly more. As you build your expertise and reputation, opportunities for advancement become more accessible.
With the growing interest in artisanal baking and gourmet pastries, there are numerous job openings across the country. Whether you're seeking to work in a local bakery, a large-scale production facility, or as a personal pastry chef, the demand for skilled pastry bakers remains strong.
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The highest-paying states for pastry bakers are Washington, New Hampshire, and California. The lowest average pastry baker salary states are Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 2 | Maine | $36,762 | $17.67 |
| 3 | California | $38,538 | $18.53 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $37,994 | $18.27 |
| 5 | Arizona | $32,757 | $15.75 |
| 6 | Washington | $38,675 | $18.59 |
| 7 | Vermont | $37,754 | $18.15 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $34,126 | $16.41 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $33,119 | $15.92 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $36,176 | $17.39 |
| 12 | Montana | $34,058 | $16.37 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $33,113 | $15.92 |
| 14 | Oregon | $37,774 | $18.16 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $35,069 | $16.86 |
| 16 | Colorado | $36,643 | $17.62 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $32,926 | $15.83 |
| 18 | Virginia | $31,993 | $15.38 |
| 19 | New York | $32,261 | $15.51 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $37,791 | $18.17 |
| 21 | Nevada | $32,125 | $15.44 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $38,502 | $18.51 |
| 23 | Illinois | $32,339 | $15.55 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $29,679 | $14.27 |
| 25 | Alaska | $34,942 | $16.80 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $29,407 | $14.14 |
| 27 | Idaho | $29,207 | $14.04 |
| 28 | Delaware | $33,111 | $15.92 |
| 29 | Utah | $30,711 | $14.76 |
| 30 | Ohio | $27,832 | $13.38 |
| 31 | Michigan | $28,882 | $13.89 |
| 32 | Maryland | $32,453 | $15.60 |
| 33 | Iowa | $29,058 | $13.97 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $28,388 | $13.65 |
| 35 | Florida | $28,531 | $13.72 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $29,347 | $14.11 |
| 37 | Missouri | $27,354 | $13.15 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $25,710 | $12.36 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $28,907 | $13.90 |
| 40 | Indiana | $25,519 | $12.27 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $24,482 | $11.77 |
| 42 | Texas | $26,952 | $12.96 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $23,192 | $11.15 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $25,435 | $12.23 |
| 45 | Kansas | $27,448 | $13.20 |
| 46 | Georgia | $25,639 | $12.33 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,368 | $11.72 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $24,463 | $11.76 |
| 49 | Alabama | $24,473 | $11.77 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $23,926 | $11.50 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,122 | $10.64 |
The highest-paying cities for pastry bakers are West Sacramento, CA, Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Sacramento, CA | $39,657 | $19.07 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $38,989 | $18.74 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $38,046 | $18.29 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $37,656 | $18.10 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $36,714 | $17.65 |
| 6 | Hackensack, NJ | $35,318 | $16.98 |
| 7 | McLean, VA | $33,337 | $16.03 |
| 8 | Columbia, MD | $32,516 | $15.63 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $32,499 | $15.62 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $32,246 | $15.50 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,839 | $15.31 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $28,626 | $13.76 |
| 13 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,567 | $13.73 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $27,126 | $13.04 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $26,281 | $12.64 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $26,035 | $12.52 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $25,763 | $12.39 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $25,233 | $12.13 |
| 19 | Biloxi, MS | $22,124 | $10.64 |
A pastry baker's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $32,209 | $2,684 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of pastry bakers are baker, manufacturing, pastry chef, and pie maker.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 | 10,867 |
| Pastry Chef | $44,879 | $3,740 | $21.58 | 18,844 |
| Pastry Cook | $34,858 | $2,905 | $16.76 | 136,754 |
Top companies hiring pastry bakers now:
Pastry baker salaries at Hyatt Hotels and Brinker International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pastry baker salary at companies like Grand Central Bakery and Nugget Markets are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyatt Hotels | $35,110 | $16.88 |
| 2 | Brinker International | $34,555 | $16.61 |
| 3 | Grand Central Bakery | $34,478 | $16.58 |
| 4 | Nugget Markets | $33,988 | $16.34 |
| 5 | The Walt Disney Company | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| 6 | SusieCakes Bakery | $32,846 | $15.79 |
| 7 | Goodwin Recruiting | $31,904 | $15.34 |
| 8 | Zingerman's | $31,843 | $15.31 |
| 9 | Hard Rock Hotels | $31,571 | $15.18 |
| 10 | Pyramid Hotel Group | $31,400 | $15.10 |
| 11 | Brasil | $31,357 | $15.08 |
| 12 | Caesars Entertainment | $31,199 | $15.00 |
| 13 | Cameron Mitchell Restaurants - Corporate Office | $31,023 | $14.91 |
| 14 | MGM Resorts International | $30,952 | $14.88 |
| 15 | Fontainebleau Miami Beach | $30,844 | $14.83 |
| 16 | King Arthur Baking | $30,703 | $14.76 |
| 17 | Elephants Delicatessen | $29,068 | $13.97 |
The average pastry baker salary has risen by $6,737 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pastry baker earned $25,472 annually, but today, they earn $32,209 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for pastry bakers over the last decade.
Compare pastry baker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare pastry baker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $32,200 | $15.49 | +5.8% |
| 2025 | $30,300 | $14.59 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $29,100 | $13.97 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $28,100 | $13.53 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $27,500 | $13.22 | +3.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disneyland Resort | Pastry | Long Beach, CA | 06/30/2025 | $58,436 |
| Caesars Entertainment | Baker-Main Bakery/Pastry (Harrah's Socal) | Valley Center, CA | 06/29/2025 | $44,871 |
| Flagship Facility Services | Pastry Baker | Sunnyvale, CA | 06/27/2025 | $64,447 |
| Grand Central Bakery | Cafe Lead Pastry Baker | Hillsboro, OR | 06/25/2025 | $16,696 |
| Susiecakes | AM Pastry Baker | Ione, CA | 06/06/2025 | $41,740 |
| Disneyland Resort | Pastry | Anaheim, CA | 05/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Grand Central Bakery | Cafe Lead Pastry Baker | Portland, OR | 05/23/2025 | $16,696 |
| Whole Foods | Pastry Baker and Mixer, Bakehouse | Pompano Beach, FL | 05/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Susiecakes | Head Pastry Baker | Austin, TX | 05/19/2025 | $45,914 |
| Zingerman's | Zingerman's Bakehouse PM Pastry Baker | Ann Arbor, MI | 05/18/2025 | $32,349 |
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