How much does a baker make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Bakers (SOC 51-3011). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $17.86 an hour, or about $37,160 a year for full-time work, across roughly 236,200 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $13.52 at the 10th percentile and $23.57 at the 90th.
Baker pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for bakers was $18.54 an hour ($38,570a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Baker pay depends on the market, the type of bakery or restaurant, and your technical experience with breads and fermentation. Overnight or very early shifts sometimes pay more, and lead baker roles with production planning responsibility pay more than assistants. Specialty skills like sourdough can raise your value.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
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