Pastry Cook Salary in the United States

How much does a Pastry Cook make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pastry Cook in the United States is $72,086 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,958
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,696 to $83,011
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,056
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $63,696 10% $56,056 90% $92,958 75% $83,011 $72,086 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Pastry Cook Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $83,011 $6,918 $1,596 $40
Average $72,086 $6,007 $1,386 $35
25th Percentile $63,696 $5,308 $1,225 $31
Check out Pastry Cook Job Openings in the United States
PASTRY COOK/BAKER - GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER

Compass Group - Columbus, OH

PASTRY COOK/BAKER - GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER

Levy Restaurants - Columbus, OH

Pastry Cook lll

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Sandusky, OH

Home Health Occupational Therapy Case Manager

Adara Home Health - HUTCHINSON, MN

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Key Factors That Influence Pastry Cook Salaries

A Pastry Cook'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Pastry Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pastry Cook'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): $68,173
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $68,546
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,417
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,412
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,407
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pastry Cook$68,173
Intermediate Level Pastry Cook$68,546
Senior Level Pastry Cook$69,417
Specialist Level Pastry Cook$70,412
Expert Level Pastry Cook$72,407
$68,173 0 yr
$68,546 < 2 yrs
$69,417 2-4 yrs
$70,412 5-8 yrs
$72,407 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Pastry Cooks

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: $90,922
  • San Francisco: $90,028
  • Oakland: $88,032

What Skills Can Increase a Pastry Cook's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 8.18% Job Postings): 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.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 2.52% 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 Service (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 8.18%
Product Quality 2.52%
Food Service 1.26%
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 Pastry Cook's salary.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Menu Development: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching
 $81,457
13%
Menu Development
 $81,457
13%
Interpersonal Communication
 $80,016
11%
Customer Satisfaction
 $78,574
9%
Purchasing
 $78,574
9%
Product Quality
 $77,132
7%
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How Education impacts a Pastry Cook's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pastry Cooks enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Pastry Cook with a Associate's Degree is between $63,500 and $68,853).

Pastry Cook Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pastry Cook
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%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Pastry Cook Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pastry Cook'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$63,696
Average $72,086/year
$83,011
$5,308
Average $6,007/month
$6,918
$1,225
Average $1,386/week
$1,596
$31
Average $35/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,011 $6,918 $1,596 $40
Average $72,086 $6,007 $1,386 $35
25th Percentile $63,696 $5,308 $1,225 $31

Salaries of jobs related to Pastry Cook

Salary Trends for Pastry Cook

Salaries for a Pastry Cook can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,578 in 2023 to around $43,256 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Pastry Cook salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Pastry Cook Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,578
2024
$43,882
2025
$43,256
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,578
2024 $43,882
2025 $43,256
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Pastry Cook

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Pastry Cook

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.)

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