Pemex India Gurgaon : Career Info for a Baking & Pastry Arts Degree

Career Options

Career options for those who receive baking and pastry arts training or education include assistant pastry chefs and bakers. With experience, individuals might go on to become full pastry chefs or head cooks.

Pastry Chef or Baker

Professionals in the baking and pastry arts field prepare and bake bread, muffins, pies, cakes and other foods based on a recipe. They may also specialize in a specific type of baked good, such as wedding cakes or artisan breads.

Cook

Cooks generally have broader duties than pastry chefs or bakers, and they tend to prepare other foods in addition to breads and desserts, such as entrees, salads or soups. Those who enjoy baking but prefer a diverse range of duties may want to consider a cook position.

Career and Salary Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of bakers was projected to grow by 6% between 2012-2022 (www.bls.gov). Companies that manufacture baked goods are frequently using machines to do the work that bakers would do, so growth in that area is expected to be slower than average. The BLS reported that the median annual wage for bakers was $23,160 in 2013. Job openings for cooks should grow by 10% over the same time period, per the BLS, and the median salary for cooks working in restaurants was $22,160 in 2013.

Educational Requirements

Some companies have minimal requirements and provide on-the-job training, while others prefer graduates of diploma, certificate or degree programs. Students complete courses and obtain hands-on training to learn about kitchen tools and baking techniques. They may also complete internships and externships at local restaurants. Courses teach participants how to make hot and cold desserts, pies and tarts, hearth breads and rolls, specialty cakes and sugar artistry. Programs also focus on food safety and sanitation.

Certifications

Many baking and pastry arts chefs choose to obtain certification to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and proficiency in the profession. Graduates can obtain certifications through the American Culinary Federation and the Retail Bakers of America. Certification levels are typically based on level of training and amount of experience working in the industry. Sample titles from the former include Certified Pastry Culinarian and Certified Working Pastry Chef. Sample titles from the latter are Certified Journey Baker or Certified Master Baker.