Bakers Career, Salary and Skills

Bakers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $37,160 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 236,200. Wage data is published for 425 locations.

Occupation description

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

O*NET code

51-3011.00

Job zone

2

Typical education

Not recorded

Experience

Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

National salary and employment

Median annual

$37,160

Hourly median

$17.86

Employment

236,200

Data year

2025

National salary distribution

$28,120
10th
$32,660
25th
$37,160
Median
$44,360
75th
$49,020
90th

Top skills

All skill ratings →

Typical tasks

  • 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.
  • Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
All task statements →

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
  • Email software
  • Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
  • iPro
  • LegacyUSA BakeSmart
  • Masters Software CakeBoss
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
All technology →

Bakers salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

All 425 locations →

Related careers

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.