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What Do Baker Do?

Career Description Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods.

A Day in the Life of a Baker

  • 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.
  • Combine measured ingredients in bowls of mixing, blending, or cooking machinery.
  • Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings to baked goods, using spatulas or brushes.
  • Direct or coordinate bakery deliveries.
  • Decorate baked goods, such as cakes or pastries.

Things a Baker Should Know How to Do

When polled, Bakers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Other Baker Job Titles

  • Pastry Cook
  • Sponge Maker
  • Pastry Finisher
  • Pan Puller
  • Night Baker

What Kind of Baker Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 191,000 jobs in the United States for Baker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 14,600 new jobs for Baker by 2026. The BLS estimates 29,100 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Baker are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Ohio, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Bakers Make A Lot Of Money?

The salary for Bakers ranges between about $19,880 and $40,350 a year.

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Bakers who work in Alaska, Hawaii, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

How much do Bakers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $28,100
Alaska $33,970
Arizona $28,930
Arkansas $25,250
California $30,710
Colorado $31,160
Connecticut $31,240
Delaware $26,090
District of Columbia $33,370
Florida $27,800
Georgia $27,350
Hawaii $35,110
Idaho $26,640
Illinois $26,620
Indiana $24,820
Iowa $26,380
Kansas $26,220
Kentucky $24,010
Louisiana $25,030
Maine $29,180
Maryland $29,040
Massachusetts $33,350
Michigan $26,430
Minnesota $30,930
Mississippi $23,350
Missouri $25,660
Montana $27,560
Nebraska $26,980
Nevada $31,420
New Hampshire $30,830
New Jersey $31,090
New Mexico $25,570
New York $30,990
North Carolina $25,570
North Dakota $29,720
Ohio $27,910
Oklahoma $24,230
Oregon $30,940
Pennsylvania $27,110
Rhode Island $32,780
South Carolina $25,640
South Dakota $26,470
Tennessee $26,610
Texas $25,950
Utah $30,170
Vermont $32,820
Virginia $27,030
Washington $33,300
West Virginia $25,000
Wisconsin $29,670
Wyoming $32,150

What Tools do Bakers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Bakers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Email software
  • Culinary Software Services ChefTec
  • Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
  • SoftCafe MenuPro
  • Sage 100 ERP
  • iPro
  • EGS CALCMENU

How do I Become a Baker?

Education needed to be a Baker:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Baker?

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Who Employs Bakers?

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Below are examples of industries where Bakers work:

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Are you already one of the many Baker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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