Food Processing Workers

How to become a Baker

Official title: Bakers

Also called: Bakery Worker, Bread Baker, Cake Baker, Cake Decorator, Dough Mixer, Mixer, Pastry Cook, Relief Baker, Scaler, Specialty Baker

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

Main tasks

Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
Set oven temperatures, and place items into hot ovens for baking.
Check products for quality, and identify damaged or expired goods.
Check equipment to ensure that it meets health and safety regulations, and perform maintenance or cleaning, as necessary.
Adapt the quantity of ingredients to match the amount of items to be baked.
Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets, and bake in production ovens or on grills.
Observe color of products being baked, and adjust oven temperatures, humidity, or conveyor speeds accordingly.
Set time and speed controls for mixing machines, blending machines, or steam kettles so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.

How to become one

Although bakers typically need no formal educational credential, employers may prefer or require that candidates have a high school diploma. Some choose to attend a technical or culinary school. They typically learn their skills through on-the-job training, which may include participating in an apprenticeship program.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Baker (Bake Produce).
Apprenticeship: Baker (Hotel & Restaurant).
Apprenticeship: Cook, Pastry (Hotel & Restaurant).

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $37,160 a year The middle half earn $32,660 to $44,360.
About 262,400 people work in this job now, and about 276,900 are projected by 2035. (+5.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Baker?

How much does a Baker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $37,160 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $32,660 to $44,360.

Is a Baker a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 262,400 to about 276,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Baker?

Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Baker (Bake Produce).

Will AI change the work of a Baker?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.