Baking and Pastry Arts: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Baking and Pastry Arts is a specialized field focused on mastering the technical and creative aspects of producing high-quality baked goods and confections in professional culinary environments. This program equips learners with the foundational and advanced skills required to excel in commercial baking operations, from ingredient mastery to presentation and service.
- Bread and Pastry Making: In-depth training in the science and technique of crafting artisanal breads, pastries, and dough-based products using traditional and modern methods.
- Handling and Storage Protocols: Instruction on proper techniques for storing baked goods to preserve freshness, texture, and safety across various environments and timeframes.
- Cake and Pastry Decorating: Development of artistic and precision-based skills in decorating cakes, pastries, and confections using piping, sculpting, and edible art techniques.
- Baking Industry Operations: Study of workflow management, kitchen organization, equipment use, and operational efficiency within commercial baking facilities.
- Product Packaging and Marketing: Exploration of branding, packaging design, and promotional strategies tailored to baked goods for retail and wholesale distribution.
- Counter Display and Service: Training in visual merchandising, customer interaction, and professional presentation to enhance the consumer experience in retail and hospitality settings.
Baking and Pastry Arts Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Baking and Pastry Arts Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Baking and Pastry Arts degrees, including Chefs and Head Cooks and Bakers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 414,210 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and Head Cooks 35-1011 | $60,990 | $36,000 - $96,030 | 182,320 | $29.32 |
| Bakers 51-3011 | $36,650 | $27,560 - $48,260 | 231,890 | $17.62 |
Baking and Pastry Arts Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $33,635 in Louisiana to $59,945 in Hawaii—a 78% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, North Dakota, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 414,210 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Baking and Pastry Arts by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Baking and Pastry Arts programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Baking and Pastry Arts is found at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder (1,355 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (489 graduates), Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (228 graduates), Valencia College (213 graduates), and Johnson & Wales University, Providence (203 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,087 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
1,355 | Boulder, Colorado | Private | escoffier.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
489 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Culinary Institute of America (CIA) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
228 | Hyde Park, New York | Private | ciachef.edu |
| Valencia College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
213 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
203 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) |
Other Award
|
122 | New York, New York | Private | ice.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
90 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
76 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
73 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Escuela Hotelera de San Juan (EHSJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
70 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | escuelahotelera.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Associate's
|
70 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | jwu.edu |
| IVAEM College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
66 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | ivaempr.com |
| Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
63 | Sanborn, New York | Public | niagaracc.suny.edu |
| Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Austin, Texas | Private | escoffier.edu |
| Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Pasadena, California | Private | ice.edu |
| Nunez Community College |
Residency
|
59 | Chalmette, Louisiana | Public | nunez.edu |
| Seattle Central College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
58 | Seattle, Washington | Public | seattlecentral.edu |
| Culinary Institute Inc |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
56 | Houston, Texas | Private | culinaryinstitute.edu |
| Dallas College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
| ICPR Junior College (ICPR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
40 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | North Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uaptc.edu |
| Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
37 | Clovis, California | Private | iot.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Other Award
|
35 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| Wilkes Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Public | wilkescc.edu |
| Hudson County Community College (HCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Public | hccc.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Academia Serrant Inc |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | serrant.edu |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | cincinnatistate.edu |
| Florida Education Institute (FEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Miami, Florida | Private | fei.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
26 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Monroe College |
Associate's
|
26 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
26 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Walnut Hill College (WHC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
26 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | walnuthillcollege.edu |
| Clark College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Vancouver, Washington | Public | clark.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| Baker College |
Associate's
|
23 | Owosso, Michigan | Private | baker.edu |
| Schoolcraft Community College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Livonia, Michigan | Public | schoolcraft.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
23 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | Public | mc3.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Associate's
|
22 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Shelton, Connecticut | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| ICPR Junior College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Colorado Mesa University (CMU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | coloradomesa.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | abtech.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Coos Bay, Oregon | Public | socc.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
19 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | aguadilla.inter.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Public | wctc.edu |
| ICPR Junior College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| Mariano Moreno Culinary Institute |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Miami, Florida | Private | mmci.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (KKC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Carteret Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Morehead City, North Carolina | Public | carteret.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| El Paso Community College (EPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | El Paso, Texas | Public | epcc.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Lively Technical College (Lively Tech) |
Other Award
|
15 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | livelytech.com |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Mercedita, Puerto Rico | Private | ponce.inter.edu |
| Marion Technical College (MTC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Ocala, Florida | Public | mariontc.edu |
| Manatee Technical College (MTC) |
Other Award
|
14 | Bradenton, Florida | Public | manateetech.edu |
| William T McFatter Technical College |
Other Award
|
14 | Davie, Florida | Public | mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu |
| Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Public | grcc.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| McHenry County College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Crystal Lake, Illinois | Public | mchenry.edu |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | hgtc.edu |
| Charlotte Technical College (CTC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Port Charlotte, Florida | Public | charlottetechcollege.net |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Peninsula College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
12 | Port Angeles, Washington | Public | pencol.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico (UNITEC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | unitecpr.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| Pinellas Technical College |
Other Award
|
11 | Clearwater, Florida | Public | myptc.edu |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College |
Other Award
|
11 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | wiregrass.edu |
| Mott Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Flint, Michigan | Public | mcc.edu |
| Atlantic Cape Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Mays Landing, New Jersey | Public | atlanticcape.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Other Award
|
11 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
|
10 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Lake Technical College (Lake Tech) |
Other Award
|
10 | Eustis, Florida | Public | laketech.org |
| Delgado Community College |
Other Award
|
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Massasoit Community College |
Other Award
|
10 | Brockton, Massachusetts | Public | massasoit.edu |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | kvcc.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Baking and Pastry Arts programs
How much can I earn with a Baking and Pastry Arts degree?
Salaries for Baking and Pastry Arts graduates vary by role and location. Chefs and Head Cooks earn a median of $60,990 annually, while Bakers earn around $36,650. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $59,945 compared to $33,635 in Louisiana. Approximately 414,210 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Baking and Pastry Arts programs?
Currently 185 accredited institutions offer Baking and Pastry Arts degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder (1,355 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (489 graduates), and Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (228 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Baking and Pastry Arts growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,333 in 2010 to 5,539 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Baking and Pastry Arts degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Chefs and Head Cooks, Bakers, . Related occupations employ approximately 414,210 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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