Bakers
Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods.
Also called: Baker · Cake Decorator · Dough Mixer · Mixer · Pastry Chef · Scaler
Median pay (national)
$36,650
$27,560–$48,260 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
231,890
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5.6%
~39,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for bakers shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $48,260 versus $27,560 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $36,650 leaves roughly 32% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +5.6% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 39,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $42,690, +16% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $21,110 — a 102% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets, and bake in production ovens or on grills.
- Set time and speed controls for mixing machines, blending machines, or steam kettles so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.
- Check the quality of raw materials to ensure that standards and specifications are met.
- Check equipment to ensure that it meets health and safety regulations, and perform maintenance or cleaning, as necessary.
- Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings to baked goods, using spatulas or brushes.
- Order or receive supplies or equipment.
- Check products for quality, and identify damaged or expired goods.
- Combine measured ingredients in bowls of mixing, blending, or cooking machinery.
- Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
- Observe color of products being baked, and adjust oven temperatures, humidity, or conveyor speeds accordingly.
Tools & technology
- ADP Enterprise eTIME
- Afcom Datasafe Computer Services FlexiBake
- At Your Service Software CostGuard
- Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
- Barrington Software CookenPro
- Culinary Software Services ChefTec
- EGS CALCMENU
- Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
- iPro
- LegacyUSA BakeSmart
- Masters Software CakeBoss
- Sage 100 ERP
- SoftCafe MenuPro
- SweetWARE nutraCoster Professional
- SweetWARE SmallPICS
- SweetWARE stockCoster
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Public Safety and Security