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Pastry chef salary
Average pastry chef salary
$44,879
Average Pastry Chef Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a pastry chef in the United States is $44,879 per year, translating to approximately $22 per hour. This figure reflects various factors, including location, experience, and the type of establishment where one is employed. For example, pastry chefs in high-end restaurants or bakeries may earn significantly more than those in smaller operations.
Salary by Experience Level
The earnings of pastry chefs can vary widely based on experience. Entry-level positions typically start lower, around $30,000, while those with several years of experience or in supervisory roles can earn upwards of $60,000.
Highest Paying States
States like California and New York often offer the highest salaries for pastry chefs. In California, the average salary can exceed $50,000, reflecting the state's cost of living and demand for skilled culinary professionals. Understanding these salary dynamics can help aspiring pastry chefs make informed career decisions.
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Where can a Pastry Chef earn more?
Pastry chef salaries by experience level
Pastry chef salary estimates from across the web
Average pastry chef salary by state
The average pastry chef salary in New Jersey, Hawaii, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pastry chef salary states are Nebraska, Arkansas, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pastry chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $58,316 | $28.04 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $62,374 | $29.99 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $63,675 | $30.61 |
| 4 | New York | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| 6 | California | $64,351 | $30.94 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,926 | $36.98 |
| 8 | Alaska | $51,477 | $24.75 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $54,003 | $25.96 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $57,842 | $27.81 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $52,869 | $25.42 |
| 12 | Florida | $50,566 | $24.31 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $72,197 | $34.71 |
| 14 | Michigan | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| 15 | Georgia | $49,723 | $23.91 |
| 16 | Virginia | $50,975 | $24.51 |
| 17 | Maine | $55,458 | $26.66 |
| 18 | Maryland | $55,407 | $26.64 |
| 19 | Illinois | $52,162 | $25.08 |
| 20 | Washington | $52,791 | $25.38 |
| 21 | Ohio | $46,779 | $22.49 |
| 22 | Delaware | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $49,189 | $23.65 |
| 24 | Indiana | $44,342 | $21.32 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $45,117 | $21.69 |
| 26 | Texas | $44,122 | $21.21 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $43,060 | $20.70 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $42,186 | $20.28 |
| 29 | Alabama | $43,730 | $21.02 |
| 30 | Arizona | $41,262 | $19.84 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $41,291 | $19.85 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $40,912 | $19.67 |
| 33 | Colorado | $41,613 | $20.01 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $40,203 | $19.33 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $42,804 | $20.58 |
| 36 | Oregon | $44,427 | $21.36 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $42,252 | $20.31 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $42,029 | $20.21 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $39,995 | $19.23 |
| 40 | Missouri | $40,456 | $19.45 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $39,554 | $19.02 |
| 42 | Montana | $34,270 | $16.48 |
| 43 | Vermont | $41,046 | $19.73 |
| 44 | Utah | $31,581 | $15.18 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $39,394 | $18.94 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $36,493 | $17.54 |
| 49 | Idaho | $35,485 | $17.06 |
| 50 | Iowa | $37,183 | $17.88 |
| 51 | Kansas | $33,046 | $15.89 |
Highest paying cities for pastry chefs
The highest-paying cities for pastry chefs are Urban Honolulu, HI, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $72,151 | $34.69 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $67,285 | $32.35 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $63,881 | $30.71 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,688 | $30.14 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $62,321 | $29.96 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $58,389 | $28.07 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $57,775 | $27.78 |
| 8 | Rockville, MD | $54,943 | $26.41 |
| 9 | Greensboro, NC | $53,370 | $25.66 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $53,297 | $25.62 |
| 11 | Annandale, VA | $53,034 | $25.50 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $52,466 | $25.22 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $51,269 | $24.65 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $49,594 | $23.84 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $44,817 | $21.55 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $43,919 | $21.11 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,183 | $20.28 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,313 | $19.86 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 20 | Saint George, UT | $37,030 | $17.80 |
Pastry chef salary details
A pastry chef's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pastry chef's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $44,879 | $3,740 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying pastry chef jobs
The highest paying types of pastry chefs are executive chef, chef de cuisine, and private chef.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Service Coordinator | $32,085 | $2,674 | $15.43 | 79,537 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Chef De Cuisine | $51,926 | $4,327 | $24.96 | 18,300 |
| Mcdonalds Crew Member | $26,648 | $2,221 | $12.81 | 133,695 |
| Chef De Partie | $39,938 | $3,328 | $19.20 | 18,913 |
| Chef/Catering | $47,693 | $3,974 | $22.93 | 20,512 |
Top companies hiring pastry chefs now:
Which companies pay pastry chefs the most?
Pastry chef salaries at The Culinary Institute of America and Kohler Co. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pastry chef salary at companies like The Lambs Club and Remote are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Culinary Institute of America | $65,098 | $31.30 |
| 2 | Kohler Co. | $56,741 | $27.28 |
| 3 | The Lambs Club | $53,928 | $25.93 |
| 4 | Remote | $51,682 | $24.85 |
| 5 | Cannella Media | $51,151 | $24.59 |
| 6 | Jds | $51,041 | $24.54 |
| 7 | MARTA | $50,934 | $24.49 |
| 8 | Goodwin Recruiting | $50,818 | $24.43 |
| 9 | ELM Locating | $50,687 | $24.37 |
| 10 | Daniels Lounge | $50,389 | $24.23 |
| 11 | Vallarta Supermarkets | $49,989 | $24.03 |
| 12 | Aimbridge Hospitality | $49,373 | $23.74 |
| 13 | Proper Hospitality | $49,331 | $23.72 |
| 14 | Sodexo Management, Inc. | $49,127 | $23.62 |
| 15 | Bon Appetit | $48,361 | $23.25 |
| 16 | Comedor | $47,887 | $23.02 |
| 17 | Anthony | $47,811 | $22.99 |
| 18 | Piedmont Driving Club | $47,593 | $22.88 |
| 19 | Benchmark Group | $46,774 | $22.49 |
| 20 | UnCruise Adventures | $46,260 | $22.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pastry Chef salary by industry
The average pastry chef salary varies across industries:
- The average pastry chef salary in the media industry is $57,072, the highest of any industry.
- The average pastry chef salary in the finance industry is $37,638.
- Pastry chefs in the retail industry earn an average salary of $35,454, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for pastry chefs
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $57,072 | $27.44 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $37,638 | $18.10 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $35,544 | $17.09 |
| 4 | Retail | $35,454 | $17.05 |
High paying pastry chef jobs
Pastry chef salary trends
The average pastry chef salary has risen by $9,274 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pastry chef earned $35,605 annually, but today, they earn $44,879 a year. That works out to a 24% change in pay for pastry chefs over the last decade.
Compare pastry chef salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pastry chef salary over time
Compare pastry chef salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pastry chef salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,900 | $21.58 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $43,300 | $20.83 | +6.0% |
| 2023 | $40,700 | $19.59 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $38,600 | $18.57 | +6.0% |
| 2021 | $36,300 | $17.45 | +3.9% |
Recently added pastry chef salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pursuit | Pastry Chef | Pony, MT | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Sodexo Live | Pastry Chef @ SAN Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Pastry Chef | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| Chotto Matte | Pastry Chef | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Harris Teeter, LLC | Pastry Chef | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $38,505 |
| Life Care Services | Pastry Chef | Farmington Hills, MI | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| LCS Senior Living | Pastry Chef | Farmington Hills, MI | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Executive Pastry Chef | West Hollywood, CA | 06/26/2025 | $107,000 |
| Do & Co Aktiengesellschaft | Assistant Pastry Chef | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Do & Co Aktiengesellschaft | Executive Pastry Chef | Miami, FL | 06/26/2025 | $85,000 |
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