Also called: bread baker, bakery cook
What a baker does
A baker makes the bread and baked goods that guests see at the counter or on the table. You weigh ingredients, mix and ferment dough, shape loaves, and bake them in racks, deck, or convection ovens. Doughs react to temperature and time, so you learn to read them by feel and adjust. Most bakers start before dawn so fresh product is ready at opening. In a restaurant, baking may also support sandwiches, breakfast, and dinner bread service, so reliable scheduling and cleanup matter.
Pay snapshot: the BLS reports a national median of $17.86/hr for bakers, and $18.54/hr in the Boston metro. See the full salary breakdown.
Responsibilities
- Weigh and mix ingredients for breads, rolls, and other baked goods according to formulas
- Knead, ferment, divide, shape, and proof dough to the correct stage
- Bake items in ovens at the right temperature and time, rotating as needed
- Check color, crust, and crumb to ensure consistent quality
- Scale recipes up and down for daily production needs
- Label, package, and display baked goods or deliver them to the kitchen and front of house
- Maintain starters, preferments, and sourdough cultures where used
- Monitor flour, yeast, and ingredient inventory and place orders
- Clean mixers, sheeters, ovens, and workspace and follow sanitation rules
- Handle allergen controls and label items for gluten, nuts, dairy, and eggs
Requirements
- Experience in a bakery, restaurant, or production kitchen is preferred
- Knowledge of baking ratios and fermentation basics
- Ability to lift heavy bags of flour and work in a warm environment
- Food handler card or ServSafe Food Handler certification is often required
- Comfort with very early start times
- Careful attention to detail, timing, and measurements
Skills
- Scaling by weight
- Dough fermentation and shaping
- Oven management
- Reading dough by feel
- Production planning
- Allergen awareness
- Cleaning and sanitation of baking equipment
Schedule
Bakers commonly work overnight or very early morning shifts so products are fresh at opening, often five or six days a week.
Baker job posting template
Copy this, replace the bracketed parts, and post it.
Baker - [Restaurant Name/Bakery Name], [City] [Restaurant Name/Bakery Name] in [City] is hiring a Baker to produce our daily breads and baked goods. We take pride in fresh product, consistent quality, and a team that likes early mornings. What you will do: - Mix, shape, proof, and bake breads and pastries - Scale ingredients by weight and follow formulas - Manage ovens and production timing - Label and package items safely, including allergens - Keep the bakery clean and organized What we are looking for: - Baking experience preferred, but we will train a motivated candidate - Attention to detail and comfort with early starts - Ability to lift [XX] pounds and work in a warm kitchen - Food handler certification (or willingness to get it) - Availability for [Shift], including weekends What we offer: - [$XX-$XX/hr] depending on experience - Fresh bread and staff meals - [Benefits, e.g. paid time off, health insurance] - A path toward lead baker or pastry Apply at [email] or stop by [Address].
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