by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 193 U.S. colleges awarded 5,575 degrees and certificates in Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef. Certificates are the most popular award, at 37% of graduates. College Factual ranks 116 schools in its 2027 Best Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing, rising to $36,678 after four years.
Studying 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef draws strong interest, with 5,575 degrees awarded annually. 193 colleges award baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,130.
By level, the 5,575 awards include 2,046 certificates, 1,808 associate degrees, 72 bachelor’s degrees and 1,626 master’s degrees.
Women earned 84% of baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,662 of 5,575). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,126) and Hispanic or Latino (1,873), and international students earned 82.
College Factual ranks 116 schools in its 2027 Best Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools ranking, including 64 for associate degrees and 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools within 21 states. In all, 193 colleges offer baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef credential is the certificate: 2,046 of the 5,575 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef call most for Coordination, Monitoring and Time Management, and for knowledge of Food Production, Production and Processing and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,046 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,808 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 72 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,626 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, at 47.3%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef, with an average median salary of $38,380; the strongest outlook belongs to Chefs and Head Cooks, at 12.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pastry Cook, Baker, Pastry Chef and Pie Maker.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, at 1,329,217.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 1,329,217 | 12.5% |
| Bakers | 171,958 | 0.8% |
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing their program, $36,678 after four years and $32,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,237 |
| 4 years | $36,678 |
| 5 years | $32,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef is Bakers, with a median salary of $41,467.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bakers | $41,467 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $35,292 |
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef has 11 similar majors in the Personal & Culinary Services field, which together award 20,261 degrees a year; the largest are Culinary Arts/Chef Training (11,809), Culinary Arts and Related Services (4,439) and Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager (1,663). Browse all Personal & Culinary Services majors or the full list of college majors.
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