Baker Salary in Chicago, IL

How much does a Baker make in Chicago, IL?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Baker in Chicago, IL is $36,380 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Baker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $41,405
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,054 to $39,010
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,937
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $34,054 10% $31,937 90% $41,405 75% $39,010 $36,380 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Baker Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $39,010 $3,251 $750 $19
Average $36,380 $3,032 $700 $17
25th Percentile $34,054 $2,838 $655 $16
Check out Baker Job Openings in Chicago, IL
Baker

East Bank Club - Chicago, IL

Baker

Pop Up Bagels: Lincoln Park - Chicago, IL

Baker

Dunkin' - Chicago, IL

Baker

Failte Hospitality Llc - Chicago, IL

Search More Baker Jobs in Chicago, IL

Key Factors That Influence Baker Salaries

A Baker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Baker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Baker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $36,012
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $36,264
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,844
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $36,960
  • Expert (over 8 years): $37,037
Levels Salary
Entry Level Baker$36,012
Intermediate Level Baker$36,264
Senior Level Baker$36,844
Specialist Level Baker$36,960
Expert Level Baker$37,037
$36,012 0 yr
$36,264 < 2 yrs
$36,844 2-4 yrs
$36,960 5-8 yrs
$37,037 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Bakers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $44,403
  • San Francisco: $43,917
  • Oakland: $42,991

What Skills Can Increase a Baker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 20.11% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 3.86% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
  • Food Preparation (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to food preparation: Food preparation – art form and applied science that includes but is not limited to cooking.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 20.11%
Product Quality 3.86%
Food Preparation 1.38%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Baker's salary.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Service Excellence: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
WFM
$39,654
9%
Standard Operating Procedures
$38,926
7%
Service Excellence
$38,563
6%
Work Ethic
$38,199
5%
Housekeeping
$38,199
5%
Communicates Effectively
$37,835
4%
Get Latest Data

Baker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Baker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026

Find Your Next Baker Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Baker job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Cadinho Bakery &amp; Cafe

    Chicago, IL

    Cadinho Bakery &amp; Cafe | Chicago, IL

    Job SummaryWe are seeking a dynamic and passionate BAKER to join our vibrant team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to support culinary operations,... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Giant Eagle

    Chicago, IL

    Giant Eagle | Chicago, IL

    Giant Eagle - - Responsibilities: Bake prepared and scratch product to specifications. Prepare and fry donuts. Provide exemplary customer service and assis... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Tilly Bagel Shop

    Chicago, IL

    Tilly Bagel Shop | Chicago, IL

    Hours:Night Shift Full Time 5:00pm-1:00am 4/5 days per week with flexibility for some 6-2am or 7-3am Tilly Bagel Shop Fulton Market is seeking an overnight... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Whole Foods Market

    Chicago, IL

    Whole Foods Market | Chicago, IL

    Whole Foods Market - - Responsibilities: Prepare products for display and sale. Cut fruits and vegetables and prepare ingredients. Bake and cook products. ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Tilly Bagel Shop

    Chicago, IL

    Tilly Bagel Shop | Chicago, IL

    Job Details Hours:Evenings Full Time 5:00pm-1:00am 5 days per week with flexibility for some 6-2am or 7-3am Tilly Bagel Shop Fulton Market is seeking a Lea... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Eataly North America

    Chicago, IL

    Eataly North America | Chicago, IL

    Job Description. Job Description. Company Description. Eataly is the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace. Eataly is not a chain... more

    6 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Chicago, IL

Cost of Living in Chicago, IL is
12.4% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst