The average hourly wage for Bakers in Honolulu is about $18 per hour, which sits just above the national average. However, a Baker’s total income in the city can vary a lot, influenced by the type of establishment, level of experience and specific skills like artisan bread or patisserie work.
In this guide, we’ll explore which restaurants and bakeries pay Bakers the most in Honolulu. We’ll also cover how establishing your niche, gaining certain certifications and selecting the right venue can hugely impact your earning power.
Top-Paying Restaurants for Bakers in Honolulu
Honolulu’s vibrant food scene includes world-famous bakeries and upscale restaurants, giving Bakers pathways to earn excellent wages — often paired with perks like healthcare, shift meals and bonus programs.
Here are some of the top-paying bakeries and restaurants in Honolulu for Bakers seeking to maximize their earnings:
1. Leonard's Bakery
Legendary for its Portuguese malasadas, Leonard’s Bakery is a Honolulu institution that attracts locals and tourists around the clock. Bakers here work in a high-volume environment and the brand’s popularity ensures steady shifts and tips — especially on weekends.
2. Halekulani Hotel (La Mer Pastry Kitchen)
The pastry kitchen at this five-star beachfront resort crafts exquisite desserts for La Mer, House Without A Key and Orchid restaurants. Experienced Bakers and Pastry Chefs are compensated with above-market wages, great benefits and advancement opportunities.
3. Breadshop
This acclaimed artisan bakery in Kaimuki is wildly famous for its naturally leavened, hand-shaped breads and pastries. Compensation is competitive and the smaller, craft-focused environment allows skilled Bakers to command higher pay rates and creativity in the kitchen.
4. Kamehameha Bakery
Known for their innovative poi-glazed donuts, Kamehameha Bakery keeps a packed house daily. They pay well for Bakers who can keep up with large batch production and maintain traditional Hawaiian recipes with consistency and speed.
5. MW Restaurant
MW Restaurant is a contemporary, chef-driven destination in Honolulu recognized for its desserts as much as its savory offerings. Baker roles here focus on creative plated desserts and working alongside celebrity Chefs, leading to premium opportunities and salaries.
6. The Surfjack (Mahina & Sun’s)
With its focus on sustainable, home-style island fare and playful interpretations of classics, Mahina & Sun’s at The Surfjack Hotel hires Bakers for both morning service and special events. Tips for special occasions and hotel benefits further boost overall compensation.
The Impact of Restaurant Type on Baker Earnings
Fine Dining vs. Neighborhood Bakeries
Working in a fine dining hotel or restaurant such as La Mer or MW Restaurant typically offers higher base salaries, health benefits and access to creative desserts or pastry programs. These venues expect a broader skill set and sometimes formal pastry certifications.
In contrast, independent bakeries like Leonard’s or Breadshop may offer competitive hourly pay, flexible shifts and tips or bonuses tied to sales volumes and holiday surges. High-traffic locations near Waikiki and downtown also mean more hours are reliably available.
Skills and Certifications
Bakers with experience in sourdough, viennoiserie or cake decorating often start at higher pay grades. Possessing a ServSafe Food Handler certificate or advanced culinary training is another way to unlock better positions and higher earnings.
Location & Working Hours
Bakeries located in tourist hotspots or inside large hotels usually pay a premium for early morning, overnight or high-demand holiday shifts. Some venues even offer shift differentials or bonuses depending on the season.
How To Find a High Paying Baker Job in Honolulu
- Tailor your resume to showcase artisan, hotel or high-volume bakery experience.
- Highlight any culinary or food safety certifications to stand out in the application pool.
- Network with local Chefs and Bakers by attending culinary events or pastry pop-ups in Honolulu.
- Drop off resumes in person early in the workday, when Head Bakers and owners are most available.
- Practice interview questions for both technical baking knowledge and customer-service style scenarios — especially in family-owned operations.
- Follow restaurants and bakeries on social media to be the first to know about open roles or seasonal staffing needs.
What’s the Outlook for Baker Jobs in Honolulu in 2025 and Beyond?
The job outlook for Bakers in Honolulu is promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall demand for Bakers is expected to grow 5% nationally between 2022 and 2032 — and it’s higher in tourism-driven markets like Honolulu, where hotels and cafés are a mainstay of the local economy.
Rising food tourism, new boutique hotels and a continued interest in artisan baking all point to expanding opportunities both in established favorites and new ventures across Oahu.
If you’re a Baker with skill in international or fusion baking or you’re open to creative and early-morning shifts, Honolulu is expected to maintain a strong job market well into 2025 and beyond.
Is a Baker’s Salary Enough to Live Well in Honolulu?
With the average Baker salary in Honolulu at $18 per hour, annual compensation for full-time roles typically lands around $37,000 to $40,000 before tips or overtime. Higher-end restaurants and hotels may offer even more especially with experience or specialized pastry skills.
But Honolulu is known for its high cost of living. Here’s a look at some typical monthly costs:
- 1-bedroom apartment (outside city center): $1,900–$2,500
- Utilities: $220–$270
- Monthly transportation/gas: $100–$150
- Groceries (solo adult): $450–$600
Bakers working in premium hotels or tourist-centric bakeries and picking up extra holiday or early-morning shifts can generally afford a comfortable lifestyle — sometimes sharing housing or living outside the main tourist corridor to stretch their earnings further.
The key is targeting high-volume venues or upmarket employers, both of which typically offer higher pay rates, better benefits and more predictable hours.
Our Criteria for Choosing Top-Paying Honolulu Baker Jobs
We chose the bakeries and restaurants above by looking at local job postings, feedback from Honolulu Bakers and industry wage survey data.
Our team prioritized places that:
- Offer above-average pay or excellent bonus and benefits packages
- Are well-known for strong, consistent customer traffic
- Support professional growth — like upskilling opportunities and access to high-end pastry work
- Have positive reputations among past and current employees for workplace culture and advancement potential
These employers not only pay well but aim to create an environment where talented Bakers are rewarded for their skills and commitment.
.webp)
.webp)
