Baker salary

Bakers in the U.S. earn a median $37,160 a year.

Median pay
$37,160
Median hourly
$17.86
Typical range
$28,120–$49,020
Jobs
236,200

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for bakers in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$28,120
25th$32,660
Median$37,160
75th$44,360
90th (top earners)$49,020

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$38,89016,560
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$39,26010,580
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$37,2309,920
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$38,6505,740
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$34,3505,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$46,6004,820
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$37,1404,760
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$37,7704,410
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$38,5704,380
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$34,2904,120

Baker salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$46,710
  2. 2Washington$46,140
  3. –District of Columbia$44,040
  4. 3California$43,120
  5. 4Colorado$40,650
  6. 5Minnesota$40,210
  7. 6Wyoming$40,000
  8. 7Vermont$39,980
  9. 8Alaska$39,710
  10. 9Nevada$39,540
  11. 10New Hampshire$39,500
  12. 11Oregon$39,500
  13. 12New York$38,660
  14. 13South Dakota$38,340
  15. 14Rhode Island$38,140
  16. 15Massachusetts$38,130
  17. 16Arizona$37,700
  18. 17Maine$37,390
  19. 18Wisconsin$37,310
  20. 19Iowa$37,210
  21. 20Montana$37,200
  22. 21Maryland$37,040
  23. 22Illinois$37,030
  24. 23New Jersey$36,960
  25. 24North Dakota$36,900
  26. 25Delaware$36,730
  27. 26Utah$36,670
  28. 27Connecticut$36,460
  29. 28Pennsylvania$36,360
  30. 29Indiana$36,150
  31. 30Florida$35,870
  32. 31Michigan$35,830
  33. 32South Carolina$35,460
  34. 33Nebraska$35,280
  35. 34Missouri$35,130
  36. 35Georgia$35,010
  37. 36New Mexico$34,850
  38. 37Ohio$34,560
  39. 38North Carolina$34,510
  40. 39Tennessee$34,440
  41. 40Virginia$34,430
  42. 41Kansas$34,300
  43. 42Idaho$34,060
  44. 43Alabama$34,030
  45. 44Kentucky$33,890
  46. 45Texas$33,790
  47. 46Oklahoma$31,460
  48. 47Arkansas$30,380
  49. 48Mississippi$28,920
  50. 49West Virginia$28,480
  51. 50Louisiana$28,020
  52. –Puerto Rico$22,170

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Baking and pastry schoolsHow to become a baker

Frequently asked questions

How much do bakers make?

The median pay for bakers in the U.S. is $37,160 a year ($17.86 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,120, and the top 10% earn over $49,020.

Which states pay bakers the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($46,710), Washington ($46,140), California ($43,120), Colorado ($40,650), Minnesota ($40,210).

How can a baker earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a baker covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Bakers, SOC 51-3011). Figures exclude self-employed workers.