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Bakers in Illinois

Thinking about a career as a Bakers in Illinois? Below are the key facts. Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods. Pastry chefs in restaurants and hotels are included with “Chefs and Head Cooks” (35-1011).

What do Bakers Make in Illinois?

The bakers working in Illinois, the typical annual salary is $36,770 per year (or about $17.68/hour).Earnings range from $30,410 at the 10th percentile to $46,470 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$30,410	$14.62
25th percentile	$33,320	$16.02
Median (50th)	$36,770	$17.68
75th percentile	$39,400	$18.94
90th percentile	$46,470	$22.34

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Illinois relative to the national average — is 1.18, suggesting that bakers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, bakers earn a median of $41,467 per year ($19.94/hour), lower than the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 170,551 bakers across the United States. In Illinois alone, around 10,730 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 2,270 bakers.

Top Illinois Metros for Bakers

The metro areas below employ the most bakers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	8,780	$36,970
Peoria, IL	240	$31,070
Rockford, IL	230	$34,040
Champaign-Urbana, IL	210	$34,480
Springfield, IL	160	$34,060
Bloomington, IL	100	$33,380

Top States for Bakers Employment

These states have the highest employment of bakers work.

State	Number Employed
California	32,140
Texas	16,040
New York	15,810
Florida	14,950
Pennsylvania	10,740
Illinois	10,730
Ohio	9,220
New Jersey	8,620
North Carolina	7,540
Georgia	7,420
Michigan	6,970
Virginia	5,670
Washington	5,640
Massachusetts	5,180
Arizona	4,950
Oregon	4,510
Wisconsin	4,360
Tennessee	4,290
Colorado	4,160
Utah	3,970

Highest-Paying States for Bakers

These states pay the most for bakers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$42,690
New York	$39,890
California	$39,570
Vermont	$39,520
Colorado	$39,430
District of Columbia	$39,090
Massachusetts	$38,800
North Dakota	$38,700
Hawaii	$38,690
Minnesota	$38,640

Skills

Key bakers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for bakers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Bakers typically:

• Check products for quality, and identify damaged or expired goods.
• Set oven temperatures, and place items into hot ovens for baking.
• Combine measured ingredients in bowls of mixing, blending, or cooking machinery.
• Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets, and bake in production ovens or on grills.
• Set time and speed controls for mixing machines, blending machines, or steam kettles so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.
• Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
• Observe color of products being baked, and adjust oven temperatures, humidity, or conveyor speeds accordingly.
• Check the quality of raw materials to ensure that standards and specifications are met.
• Check equipment to ensure that it meets health and safety regulations, and perform maintenance or cleaning, as necessary.
• Adapt the quantity of ingredients to match the amount of items to be baked.
• Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings to baked goods, using spatulas or brushes.
• Decorate baked goods, such as cakes or pastries.

Work Activities

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Training and Teaching Others
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Coaching and Developing Others
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Thinking Creatively

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Culinary Arts

Related Careers

Related occupations to bakers include:

• Chefs and Head Cooks
• Cooks, Fast Food
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
• Cooks, Restaurant
• Cooks, Short Order
• Food Preparation Workers

Also Known As

Bagel Maker, Baker, Bakery Associate, Bakery Clerk, Bakery Team Member, Bread Baker, Cake Decorator, Donut Maker, Dough Maker, Dough Mixer, French Pastry Cook, Hotel and Restaurant Baker, Hotel and Restaurant Cook, Industrial Cook, Manufacturing Baker.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-3011.00