Baker salary
We don't have enough pay data for this role yet. Browse open jobs below — many listings state pay directly.
See what's hiring now
Browse open bakers.
What a baker does
Bakers produce bread, pastries and baked goods in retail bakeries, supermarkets and production facilities. Early starts are the defining feature of the job.
Day-to-day duties
- Mix, proof, shape and bake to recipe
- Operate ovens, mixers and proofers
- Decorate and finish products
- Monitor quality and consistency
- Manage stock and rotation
Skills employers look for
- Precision with weights and timings
- Understanding how dough behaves
- Physical stamina in early hours
- Consistency across large batches
Requirements Entry level
- No formal education required for most roles
- Food handler card
- Very early starts — often 3–5am
- Lifting sacks and trays repeatedly
How to get started
- 1 Start as a bakery assistant
- 2 Learn mixing, proofing and oven work
- 3 Take on decorating or specialty products
- 4 Move to head baker or open your own
Job outlook: Steady demand across supermarkets, retail bakeries and wholesale production. Craft and artisan bakeries generally pay above supermarket in-store roles.
Common questions about bakers
What does a baker do?
Bakers produce bread, pastries and baked goods in retail bakeries, supermarkets and production facilities. Early starts are the defining feature of the job. Day to day, that means mix, proof, shape and bake to recipe, operate ovens, mixers and proofers, decorate and finish products and monitor quality and consistency.
How do you become a baker?
The usual route is: (1) start as a bakery assistant, (2) learn mixing, proofing and oven work, (3) take on decorating or specialty products, (4) move to head baker or open your own. Employers typically look for no formal education required for most roles, food handler card and very early starts — often 3–5am.
Do you need a certification to work as a baker?
Usually not. Most employers hire bakers without a specific licence, and train on the job.
Are bakers in demand?
Steady demand across supermarkets, retail bakeries and wholesale production. Craft and artisan bakeries generally pay above supermarket in-store roles.
What hours do bakers work?
Very early — starts between 3am and 5am are normal, so that product is ready when doors open. The upside is finishing by early afternoon. It is the single biggest thing to weigh up before taking a baking job.
Where are bakers most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.