Does working with freshly baked bread, dough and pastries sound sweet? Everything from rustic breads to delicate pastries, doughnuts to wedding cakes offer endless possibilities for the creative baker. Choose a career in baking and work as a Baker or Patissier for a wide variety of employers or create your own business.

Bakers prepare dough, batters, fillings and sauces and then produce items such as bread, buns, cakes, pies, cookies, cheesecakes, tarts and other sweet and savory items. Chocolate and sugar work also offers a unique area of specialization for bakers.

Educational Requirement to Enter the Trade:

• Recommended: Grade 10 or equivalent including English 10, Math 10 and Science 10 (Food)
• Preferred: Grade 12

BC Institutions where Training is Offered:

• Vancouver Island University
• Vancouver Community College

How long is the Apprenticeship?

• In school: 3 levels of technical training (4 weeks each)
• Work-based: 5400 hours on-the-job
• Generally takes about three years to complete

Businesses that Employ Bakers: Small retail bakeries, retail supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, catering companies, pastry shops and commercial bakeries.

Salary: Wages vary depending on experience, location and whether workers are union or non-union employees or self-employed. Bakers with certification earned, on average, $10,000 more per year than non-certified workers.

Future Possible Career Path:

• Head Baker/Pastry Chef
• Bakery Supervisor
• Food Production Manager
• Food Service Manager
• Owner/Operator