As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Pastry Chef in the United States is $68,981. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $59,439 to $78,570, with most professionals earning between $50,752 and $87,300.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $78,570 | $6,547 | $1,511 | $38 |
| Average | $68,981 | $5,748 | $1,327 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,439 | $4,953 | $1,143 | $29 |
An entry-level Pastry Chef with less than 1 year of experience earns about $64,626. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $65,048. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $66,034. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $67,160, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $69,135.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Pastry Chef | $64,626 |
| Intermediate Level Pastry Chef | $65,048 |
| Senior Level Pastry Chef | $66,034 |
| Specialist Level Pastry Chef | $67,160 |
| Expert Level Pastry Chef | $69,135 |
| Entry Level | 6% |
| Mid Level | 6% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Pastry Chef compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $43,495 in 2023 to approximately $42,815 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Pastry Chef salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Pastry Chef information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Pastry Chef job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Pastry Chef and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $68,981 | 69.3% | ||
| Bonus | $1,643 | 1.7% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $5,403 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,896 | 2.9% | ||
| Disability | $1,342 | 1.3% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,507 | 6.5% | ||
| Pension | $3,814 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $8,964 | 9.0% | ||
| Total Compensation | $99,548 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 1.0% |
| High School | 26.9% |
| Associates | 42.3% |
| Bachelors | 28.8% |
| Masters | 1.0% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Pastry Chef is $68,981. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Pastry Chef is $33; the average weekly pay of Pastry Chef is $1,327; the average monthly pay of Pastry Chef is $5,748.
A Pastry Chef's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Pastry Chef earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Pastry Chef is $86,572.
The highest pay for Pastry Chef is $87,300.
The lowest pay for Pastry Chef is $50,752.
Pastry Chef leads the production and presentation of pastries and baked goods including sourcing, purchasing, inventory, and cost control. Develops and tests recipes and sources ingredients to create unique pastries and baked goods. Being a Pastry Chef creates dessert menus that complement meal offerings, appeal to diners and maximize profits. Follows all applicable guidelines and regulations for food handling and safety. Additionally, Pastry Chef maintains a clean and orderly workstation and kitchen equipment. May require an associate degree in culinary arts or equivalent. Typically reports to an executive chef. The Pastry Chef supervises a small group of para-professional staff in an organization characterized by highly transactional or repetitive processes. Contributes to the development of processes and procedures. To be a Pastry Chef typically requires 3 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area under supervision.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Retail Management: Refers to the process of helping customers find products in your store, It includes everything from increasing your customer pool to how products are presented, and how you fulfill a customer's needs
Food Service: The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
