Pastry Chef Salary in the United States

Pastry Chefs in the U.S. earn an average base salary of $54,995 per year. Find out how to earn more money by learning about:

1. How average salaries vary depending on location
2. What factors affect how much an individual Pastry Chef earns
3. How to negotiate for higher compensation in this role

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.

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. Those with advanced techniques and specialized skills often earn more than those with basic pastry knowledge.

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

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

Another example would be those who specialize in uniquely decorated cakes. Think the likes of Ron Ben-Israel — the Executive Pastry Chef and owner of a popular artisanal bakery in NYC. In his interview with OysterLink, he shared this advice for those who want to excel in this aspect of pastry arts:

"You must learn how to decorate [cakes], but you can’t be afraid to draw inspiration from other fields. Cake design is an art form, so embrace all types of inspiration — whether it’s fashion, nature or even a Broadway show. The more [fields or art forms] you expose yourself to, the more innovative your cake designs will be."

Editor's note: The interview excerpt above has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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.

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.

Pastry Chef Salary by State or District

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

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.

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.

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.

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.