Pastry Chef Job Description
Pastry Chefs or Patissiers create desserts including cakes, tarts and pies. They also develop recipes, oversee staff and ensure efficient kitchen operations.
To help you find the best Pastry Chef that will elevate your restaurant’s overall dining experience, we’ve provided a job description template below.
Example of a Pastry Chef Job Description
You can download (PDF / Word version) or copy this template directly and then customize it to suit your hiring needs.
Job Overview
We are looking for a Pastry Chef who will help us in creating desserts and pastries for [Restaurant Name].
In this role, you’ll be in charge of preparing desserts, overseeing the pastry team and ensuring the quality of our offerings.
Our ideal candidate has a strong attention to detail, a passion for pastry arts and a minimum of five years in a similar role.
Salary: $50-$60 per hour
Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday
Employee Perks & Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Paid parental leave
- Health and wellness package
- Life insurance
- Short/long-term disability insurance
Duties & Responsibilities
- Prepare desserts, pastries and bread
- Ensure all pastry items are of excellent quality
- Develop pastry and dessert menus
- Collaborate with other kitchen staff to maintain kitchen inventory
- Mentor staff
Required Skills & Experience
- At least five years of experience in a similar role
- Expertise in baking and pastry-making
- Ability to comply with food safety standards
- Good leadership skills
- Excellent communication skills
Qualifications & Education
- A high school diploma
- Pastry-making and baking certifications are advantageous
- A valid Food Handler’s card
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What To Write Under Pastry Chef Duties
A report says that 36% of new hires resign in under three months because the job description the employer posted doesn’t match their actual work. This makes it important for employers to check with restaurant staff that Patissiers will work with — like Cooks, Bakers and Executive Chefs — if the list of duties matches what is happening in the kitchen.
Here are examples of duties that are clear and aligned with the title of a Pastry Chef:
- Create desserts, pastries and bread
- Supervise the production of pastry items
- Train a team of pastry cooks
- Develop dessert menus
- Perform inventory management
How To Determine What To Include Under Pastry Chef Skills and Experience
Think of the minimum skills and experience required to do the job. Include both hard and soft skills to ensure that the candidate has both technical expertise and emotional intelligence to contribute positively to the team.
Lack of emotional intelligence especially in a leadership role such as a Pastry Chef can result in a high turnover rate.
Below are some key skills and qualifications you should include in a Pastry Chef job description to attract the best candidates:
- Minimum of five years of experience as a Pastry Chef
- Expertise in baking and pastry-making techniques, ingredients and equipment
- Knowledge of state-required sanitation and cleanliness standards
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to lead a team
Things To Consider Under Pastry Chef Education and Certifications
Below are the educational attainments you should include for your Pastry Chef job description:
- High school diploma or GED
- Culinary degree preferred but not required
You can also add the following certifications as highly advantageous to have:
Adding these to your job description will help filter candidates who are passionate about growth and skills improvement.
Pastry Chef Salary Expectations
Pastry Chefs can earn anywhere from $48,669 to $71,139 per year.
But on average, Pastry Chefs earn $54,995 per year or $26.44 per hour.
Salaries can differ according to where they work, their level of experience and the type of establishment they work for.
Similar Job Titles
- Fast-Food Worker Job Description
- Restaurant Consultant Job Description
- Sous Chef Job Description
- Dishwasher Job Description
- Busser Job Description
Pastry Chef Job Description FAQs
In writing job descriptions, keep in mind these following tips:
- Be concise
- Use descriptive verbs and simple sentences
- Don’t use abbreviations
- Avoid gender-specific language
Pastry Chefs share almost the same duties and responsibilities as Bakers, Executive Chefs and Sous Chefs.
Unlike Pastry Cooks and Bakers which are entry-level roles, Pastry Chefs need at least five years of experience in a professional kitchen. This proves their ability to manage stress, lead a team and create high-quality desserts and pastries.
In bigger establishments like hotels, Pastry Chefs report to Executive Chefs to make sure that the pastry offerings align with the overall vision and business strategy of the restaurant.
Yes, Pastry Chefs are legally required to have a Food Handler’s card. A Food Handler’s card certifies that a food service industry worker has knowledge in proper food handling practices.
Pastry Chefs or any food service industry worker can get it online by taking a class and passing the exam through either their local state health website or learning platforms such as ServSafe.