Median Salary
$37,160
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$49,020
entry level starts ~$28,120
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 236,000 employed
How much does a Baker make?
Bakers in the United States bring home a median salary of $37,160 a year, or around $17.87 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $28,120, while the top 10% earn $49,020.
That is $24,230 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Baker salary range by percentile
Half of all Bakers earn between $32,660 and $44,360 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,120 | $13.52 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $32,660 | $15.70 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $37,160 | $17.87 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $44,360 | $21.33 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,020 | $23.57 |
|
Highest-paying states for Baker
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Hawaii leads the country for Baker pay at $46,710 a year, followed by Washington ($46,140) and District of Columbia ($44,040). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $28,020 — a gap of $18,690 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Baker salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Hawaii $46,710Washington $46,140District of Columbia $44,040California $43,120Colorado $40,650Minnesota $40,210Wyoming $40,000Vermont $39,980Alaska $39,710Nevada $39,540New Hampshire $39,500Oregon $39,500New York $38,660South Dakota $38,340Rhode Island $38,140Massachusetts $38,130Arizona $37,700Maine $37,390Wisconsin $37,310Iowa $37,210Montana $37,200Maryland $37,040Illinois $37,030New Jersey $36,960North Dakota $36,900Delaware $36,730Utah $36,670Connecticut $36,460Pennsylvania $36,360Indiana $36,150Florida $35,870Michigan $35,830South Carolina $35,460Nebraska $35,280Missouri $35,130Georgia $35,010New Mexico $34,850Ohio $34,560North Carolina $34,510Tennessee $34,440Virginia $34,430Kansas $34,300Idaho $34,060Alabama $34,030Kentucky $33,890Texas $33,790Oklahoma $31,460Arkansas $30,380Mississippi $28,920West Virginia $28,480Louisiana $28,020
Workforce and education
About 236,000 people work as Bakers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $38,480 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Baker make in the United States?
The median Baker salary in the United States is $37,160 per year, or about $17.87 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,120, while the top 10% of earners make $49,020 or more.
How does Baker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Baker median of $37,160 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Bakers the most?
Hawaii is the highest-paying state for Bakers, with a median salary of $46,710 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Baker?
Becoming a Baker typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Bakers work in the United States?
About 236,000 people were employed as Bakers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other manufacturing & production roles with similar pay.
$42,770
median pay · 41,000 employed
$43,530
median pay · 15,000 employed
$48,040
median pay · 14,000 employed
$39,530
median pay · 13,000 employed
$40,140
median pay · 136,000 employed
$38,020
median pay · 6,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.