Skip to main content
National Careers Service

beta How could we improve this service? Your feedback will help.

  1. Home
  2. Explore careers
  3. Baker

Baker

Alternative titles for this job include Industrial baker, baking operative, artisan baker, craft baker

Bakers make bread, cakes and pastries by hand and with catering equipment.

Average salary (a year)

£19,000 Starter

to

£26,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 45 a week

You could work

early mornings on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

College

You can do a college course, for example:

  • hospitality and catering
  • bakery
  • professional bakery

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could begin your career by applying to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Baker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Lead Baker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Pastry Chef Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take around 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You may be able to start as a trainee or assistant in a bakery shop, supermarket or food production plant, and work your way up through training on the job.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about working in the baking industry from Tasty Careers and the Federation of Bakers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of food production methods
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • maths knowledge
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a baker, you could:

  • weigh and mix ingredients by hand or using machinery
  • bake bread, cakes and patisserie products in batches
  • decorate and finish baked items ready for dispatch or shop display
  • make quality and food safety checks
  • stocktake and order supplies
  • develop new recipes and products

Working environment

You could work at a store or in a factory.

Your working environment may be dusty, physically demanding and noisy.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a bakery supervisor or production manager in a factory, or move into commercial sales.

You could also become a technical adviser or development baker for a baked goods or catering equipment company.

Another option is to specialise, for example in patisserie, or become an artisan craft baker and set up your own business.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Level 2 Baker Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £20,987.50 a year Annually
  • Location: Hull

Level 2 Baker Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £20,987.50 a year Annually
  • Location: Genner Road, Corby
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Professional Bakery - Level 3

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Blackpool

Level 3 Professional Bakery

  • Provider: TAMESIDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2025
  • Location: Ashton-Under-Lyne
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturdays and bank holidays

We're closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.