Pastry Chef Salary in the United States

Pastry Chefs in the U.S. earn an average base salary of $54,995 per year. For a comprehensive look into the salary of a Pastry Chef and ways to earn more money in this role — this guide covers everything you need to know.

Before we dive in, explore our comparison tool below to see how your current or desired Pastry Chef salary compares to those in major U.S. cities.

What could I earn?

Find out how your salary compares to the average Pastry Chef salary.

Average Pastry Chef Base Salary:

What can I earn as Pastry Chef? Your salary is $0.00 on the US national average.
$26.44
Market Average $26.44
Your salary $26.44
$9.00 $18.00 $36.00

What Is the Average Monthly Pastry Chef Salary?

The average monthly salary of Pastry Chefs is $4,582.92 per month.

Back-of-the-house staff, including entry-level Cooks, Kitchen Managers and Pastry makers, generally don’t receive tips. However, tipping practices vary depending on the establishment.

If tipping isn’t stated in the job description, you can research your potential employer’s website to check their list of benefits.

What Is the Hourly Wage for Pastry Chefs?

Pastry Chefs earn $26.44 per hour.

What Is the Weekly Wage for Pastry Chefs?

Pastry Chefs make $1,057.6 per week.

How Does the Salary of Pastry Chefs Vary?

A Pastry Chef’s salary varies depending on their years of experience, skill level and location.

Years of Experience

Pastry Chefs with a minimum of 15 years of experience can earn as much as $71,139 per year. This is 37% higher than the salary entry-level professionals in this role receive, which is $48,669 annually.

This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data. 

Pastry Chefs with years of experience command higher salaries as they require little to no training to create high-quality desserts and pastries, saving employers time and money.

Skill Level

A Pastry Chef’s salary can increase significantly based on their skill set. Chefs with advanced techniques and specialized skills often earn more than those with basic pastry knowledge.

For example, chefs proficient in crafting delicate pastries like macarons, croissants, and soufflés, or those skilled in advanced techniques such as tempering chocolate or sugar sculpting, can command higher wages.

These skills require precision, creativity, and years of practice, making chefs who possess them more valuable to employers.

Location

Pastry Chefs working in highly urbanized areas such as Washington receive higher salaries ($60,555 per year) than those living in rural areas like West Virginia ($44,463 per year) to match the cost of living.

Explore the map below to see how the salary of Pastry Chefs can vary per state.

This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data. 

What’s Your Take-Home Pay as a Pastry Chef?

Since salaries differ significantly per state, OysterLink created a Paycheck Calculator customized per state to give you an estimate of how much you’re taking home after local taxes.

To use this, simply put your gross income, choose how often you get your salary, select the state where you’re working and then finally click the “Calculate Tax” button.

Paycheck Calculator

Your estimated take home pay:

$60,830.93
Annual
Monthly
Biweekly
Weekly
Daily
Hourly

Detailed tax breakdown:

24.90% Total Tax 75.10% Net pay
Salary $81,000.00
Federal Income Tax $10,588.10
State Income Tax $3,384.47
Social Security Tax
Medicare $1,174.50
Take Home $60,830.93

Disclaimer: Please note that this paycheck calculator is designed to provide an estimate and should not be considered as professional tax advice. The actual withholding amounts and taxes owed may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. For accurate and personalized tax advice, we recommend consulting with a tax professional.

If your gross pay is $81,000.00 per year in the state of California, your net pay (or take home pay) will be $60,830.93 after tax deductions of 24.90% (or $20,169.07). Deductions include a total of [1] 13.07% (or $10,588.10) for the federal income tax, [2] 4.18% (or $3,384.47) for the state income tax, [3] 6.20% (or $5,022.00) for the social security tax and [4] 1.45% (or $1,174.50) for Medicare.

The Federal Income Tax is collected by the government and is consistent across all U.S. regions. In contrast, the State Income Tax is levied by the state of residence and work, leading to substantial variations. The Social Security Tax is used to fund Social Security, which benefits retirees, persons with disabilities and survivors of deceased workers. Medicare involves a federal payroll tax designated for the Medicare insurance program. As of 2022, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not levy a state income tax.

Which States Offer the Highest Pay for Pastry Chefs?

Aside from Washington, several other states including Vermont, Colorado, California and New York offer a competitive Pastry Chef salary.

StateAvg. Salary
Alabama$48,018
Alaska$56,135
Arizona$52,516
Arkansas$46,671
California$58,187
Colorado$58,529
Connecticut$54,596
Delaware$55,519
Florida$48,259
Georgia$49,444
Hawaii$55,313
Idaho$50,516
Illinois$52,921
Indiana$51,099
Iowa$50,194
Kansas$48,507
Kentucky$49,104
Louisiana$48,580
Maine$54,893
Maryland$56,436
Massachusetts$57,628
Michigan$52,304
Minnesota$54,028
Mississippi$48,085
Missouri$52,585
Montana$49,791
Nebraska$52,204
Nevada$53,449
New Hampshire$53,013
New Jersey$55,567
New Mexico$49,554
New York$57,672
North Carolina$52,270
North Dakota$51,913
Ohio$50,866
Oklahoma$49,989
Oregon$54,508
Pennsylvania$53,016
Rhode Island$54,393
South Carolina$52,703
South Dakota$50,066
Tennessee$49,499
Texas$51,475
Utah$50,965
Vermont$58,653
Virginia$54,898
Washington$60,555
West Virginia$44,463
Wisconsin$52,716
Wyoming$56,178
District of Columbia$56,436

Which Cities Offer the Highest Pay for Pastry Chefs?

Pastry Chefs in New York City and Los Angeles enjoy higher salaries than professionals living in other cities.

Miami icon Miami

Annual mean wage

$54,714

# of employees

3,470

New York City icon New York City

Annual mean wage

$63,099

# of employees

14,970

Chicago icon Chicago

Annual mean wage

$51,530

# of employees

9,700

Los Angeles icon Los Angeles

Annual mean wage

$63,061

# of employees

9,330

How To Negotiate for a Higher Salary as a Pastry Chef?

If the thought of negotiating for a higher salary makes you nervous, you’re not alone.

According to a survey, almost 60% of professionals don’t negotiate their salaries. Many job seekers skip this process for many reasons, including not knowing how to approach the subject and being afraid of being viewed negatively by their potential employer.

statistics regarding salary negotiation

If you’re struggling with salary negotiation, follow these three simple tips.

  1. Research the average salary of Pastry Chefs in your area: This is especially helpful if you’re afraid to negotiate the offer even if it’s lower than what you expected. Knowing that what you’re asking is within the market standards gives you confidence which is the key to a successful negotiation.
  2. Be ready to highlight your skills and experience: Now that you’re feeling more assertive, it’s time to reflect on your skills and experience. What kind of skills and experience did the hiring manager emphasize are necessary for the job? Make sure to highlight them to help your employer understand why you deserve the salary you’re asking for.
  3. Review the full compensation package: Your compensation package isn’t just your salary. It also includes perks and benefits. If there’s simply no room to negotiate for a higher salary, look into requesting more PTOs or being provided a professional development budget so you can upskill without incurring personal costs.

What Are the Perks and Benefits Pastry Chefs Get?

We reviewed Pastry Chef job ads in the United States and below are some of the most common perks and benefits offered to them:

  • 401(k) matching: A type of retirement plan wherein employers match the contribution you make
  • Dental insurance: Helps pay for oral procedures such as fillings, cleaning and tooth extraction
  • Disability insurance: A type of income you receive in case you get injured on the job and can’t work for a while
  • Health insurance: Covers benefits such as hospitalization, prescription drugs and laboratory tests
  • Life insurance: A cash benefit your family members receive if you pass away
  • Paid time off: A policy that requires your employers to pay you your regular rate while you’re on leave

Pastry Chef Salary Compared to Similar Careers

Pastry Chefs earn less than Chefs but more than Bakers and Cooks.

Job Title Avg Salary
Baker $35,550
Pastry Chef $54,995
Cook $36,060

Pastry Chef Salary FAQs

Yes, some employers in the hotel and restaurant industry offer Pastry Chefs performance-based bonuses to help increase their salaries.

Pastry Chefs ($54,995) generally earn more than Chocolatiers ($39,584) and Cake Decorators ($35,961).

A Pastry Chef’s salary can range from $47,666 (25th percentile) to $82,092 (90th percentile).

Yes, Pastry Chefs make more money than Bakers. The average yearly salary for a Pastry Chef is $54,995, while Bakers earn an average of $35,550.

Based on job ads we have on our Pastry Chef jobs page, the highest salary a Pastry Chef can earn is up to $110,000 per year. Other high-paying jobs offer salaries ranging from $90,000 to $99,000 annually.

These higher salaries are typically found in upscale hotels, resorts and luxury restaurants, where the demand for advanced pastry skills and leadership experience is greater.

Pastry Chef Salary Data

OysterLink’s salary data is based on the latest information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and calculated using estimates from job search sites. Learn more about our methodology.

Job title:
  • Pastry Chef
  • Assistant Restaurant Manager
  • Baker
  • Barback
  • Barista
  • Bartender
  • Busser
  • Cashier
  • Chef
  • Concierge
  • Cook
  • Director of Restaurant Operations
  • Dishwasher
  • Event Coordinator
  • Event Manager
  • Event Planner
  • Executive Chef
  • Fast-Food Worker
  • Fine Dining Server
  • Food Runner
  • Head Chef
  • Host/Hostess
  • Hotel General Manager
  • Hotel Manager
  • Housekeeper
  • Kitchen Manager
  • Line Cook
  • Porter
  • Prep Cook
  • Private Chef
  • Receptionist
  • Restaurant Consultant
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Server
  • Sommelier
  • Sous Chef
  • Sushi Chef
  • Valet
  • Waiter/Waitress
Salary:
  • Average US
  • Chicago, IL
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Miami, FL
  • NYC, NY
Growth
N/A
Avg. Salary
$54,995

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