by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef involves the study of Baking And Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Serve As Professional Bakers And Pastry Specialists In Restaurants Or Other Commercial Baking Establishments. Includes Instruction In Bread And Pastry Making, Bread And Pastry Handling And Storage, Cake And Pastry Decorating, Baking Industry Operations, Product Packaging And Marketing Operations, And Counter Display And Service. Continue reading for the essential details every baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef programs.
Nationwide, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef draws strong interest, with 5,539 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools ranking analyzes these 185 schools to determine the best overall colleges for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef programs later in this article.
Studies in Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,017 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,032 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 76 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,354 |
People currently working in careers related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 47.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 18.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.6% |
| Some college courses | 8.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 1,329,217 | 12.5% |
| Bakers | 171,958 | 0.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,617 |
| 4 years | $29,033 |
| 5 years | $32,264 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bakers | $41,467 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $35,292 |
With 185 different baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
