Job Opportunities with a Pastry Chef Education

Where Can Pastry Chefs Work?

Pastry chefs could work for any of the following:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Bakeries
• Delis
• Cafes
• Schools
• Cruise Lines
• Resorts
• Private Businesses
• Community Centers
• Cafeterias
• Supermarkets
• Private Homes
• Corporate Kitchens
• Government Institutions (local, state, and federal)
• Casinos

Salaries

Pastry chefs tend to make more money when working for hotels or restaurants, however this depends on the company size and annual company sales. A pastry chef could earn $20,000 a year with one year of experience, and over $60,000 a year with 20 years of experience. Pastry chefs who manage or own a successful business could earn as much as $100,000 a year.

Jobs

There are different stages of training a pastry chef would need to go through before becoming fully qualified. This depends on the level of prior experience and training, and the size of the business you work for.

Line Chef

Most future pastry chefs start their careers as a line chef or prep cook. A line chef pay be responsible for one specific part of the kitchen, such as the stove or the oven. They may also be responsible for preparing ingredients beforehand, and will assist the executive or head pastry chef with various tasks. There could be one to five line cooks in a kitchen at a time, depending on the size and type of the business. A line chef generally earns between $20,000 and $25,000 a year.

Assistant Pastry Chef

Depending on the size of the company, the assistant chef may work alongside the executive chef, or they may have to fulfill the role of a line chef. Assistant pastry chefs are responsible for creating sauces, fillings, and icings, and could also prepare different types of breads. On average, an assistant pastry chef could make between $30,000 and $40,000 a year.

Executive Pastry Chef

Besides being responsible for creating nearly every menu item, the executive pastry chef may also be in charge of ordering supplies, evaluating menu items, and training other members of staff. They are usually the first in the kitchen to arrive, and the last one to leave. An executive pastry chef could earn between $40,000 and $60,000 a year depending on annual company sales.